Book Description

This timely reference/text integrates the principles of soil microbiology with novel insights into the physiology and activity of soil microbiota obtained by using the latest modern molecular analyses--investigating relationships between microbial communities, community structures, and function. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Phytohormones in Soils: Microbial Production and Function
I have read and studied dozens of books on this subject.This is likely one of the most useful and PRACTICAL in this subject.The subject covered here is the next important step in modern agriculture!A new, more productive and sustainable system of food production is not possible without a general understanding and application of these concepts.I was so impressed that I took the time to contact Dr Frankenberger just to meet the man who had such insight into this subject.I was fortunate enough to also meet Dr Arshad at the same time.If you are a 21st century agronomist or sincere student of soil and plant fertility, you are missing something big here. ... Read more

Book Description

This thorough revision presents the latest cultivation and biotechnological advances that contribute to the modernization of mushroom farming and the mushroom industry. It presents the individual steps of the complex mushroom cultivation process, not only the "how" but also the "why" is explored. Professionals/scientists in related fields will obtain a much greater knowledge of the nutritional and medicinal benefits that mushrooms have to offer. This interdisciplinary approach will appeal to a wide range of related fields with its complete coverage of breeding, efficient cultivation practices, nutritional value, and medicinal/pharmaceutical utility. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

ignorant and angry but useful
Chase's angry critique of "environmentalists" and their myths of nature has its points, but he ignores most of the substantial efforts to manage our ecosystem holistically -- e.g. including land, people, and money. He criticizes "biocentrism" but many of us recognize that human life, for example, is totally dependent on other organisms, E. coli to start. The question is not hierarchy, but interdependence.

Hundreds of pages on what's wrong in my edition, and only two pages that mention possible pathways to the future in the form of the Quincy Library Group and Applegate Partnership.

eye-opening clear analysis that changed my views
Until reading "In a Dark Wood" I espoused "politically correct" environmentalist views -- such as "all old growth forests must be saved at any cost from evil logging" -- in a knee-jerk, emotionally charged, self-righteous way, without ever taking the trouble to study or think through what was really at stake, and what premises about reality underlay my views.Alston Chase's thinking on conservation is so clearly presented, so well backed by evidence, so carefully analysed, and so full of good will and integrity, that I find it impossible to read his book without respecting his intentions -- and his conclusions, which challenge everything I had unthinkingly assumed in the past.This is the kind of book that not only addresses concrete problems, such as the political struggle between, say Earth First and Maxxam Corporation, but also inspires the reader to think more deeply, and question his/her assumptions.This is the kind of book I think most self-labeled "environmentalists" -- especially those who come from white, middle class, college-educated backgrounds -- will dismiss prior to investigation, and will never read.If so, it is a sad loss.It's a book that can change your views and help you learn to think better -- and I believe most people would rather not do so, since thinking better might well spoil the dramatic excitement of waging a war of good against evil, nature against humanity.Still, I hope people will read this book.It's one that changed my life. ... Read more

Book Description

With their heady perfume and stunning visual appeal, lavenders have been prized by gardeners since ancient times. Lavender is a truly comprehensive study that enables the reader to research and identify more than 200 lavender species and varieties. With chapters on cultivation, propagation, pests and diseases, and botanical history, this book is as practical as it is authoritative. More than 200 photos document recent advances in color variation that have resulted from intense breeding; plants now available range from deep purple and lilac to white, cream, pink, and red-violet. With so many hardy and dependable plants to choose from, no lavender enthusiast will want to be without this indispensable book. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Usable tehnical growers guide
If you are looking for indepth information or good reference material, this is the book for you. No fluff here. Botanical info is clear and concise. As growers, we use this book as reference material on a regular basis. Well worth the money. Would love to see more of this caliber. The only draw back is that several of the varieties listed are not available here in the U.S..

Not an Enjoyable Read
Very disappointed with this one. Although the author is quite knowledgeable about the subject matter, for the lay person, too much of the book is dedicated to the description of each cultivar, etc. Not enough attention given to propagation and care for the average gardener.

The book is written in a very condescending way and I felt that the author is a bit "out of touch" with the rest of us who are interested in lavender but do not need to know the anatomy of each species. There are certainly more enjoyable books out there on the subject that are a pleasure to add to your home library--this is NOT one of them.

LAVENDERS GALORE
AT LAST SOME HAS WRITTEN A DEFINITIVE BOOK ABOUT LAVENDERS AND THEIR GROWTH. YES, THIS IS A TECHNICAL BOOK BUT EVEN THE NON BOTANY LOVERS WILL FIND IT EASY TO USE. VARIETIES ARE NAMED, ALONG WITH ALL THEIR OTHER NAMES, PICTURED AND EXPLAINED. AFTER READING THIS YOU KNOW WHY GROSSO AND DILLY DILLY LOOK ALIKE. THIS IS A GREAT REFERENCE BOOK AND THE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE IT AN IDEAL COFFEE TABLE BOOK. IF LAVENDER HANDICRAFTS ARE YOUR THING, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU

not the book I hoped for
The author, Virginia McNaughton, is a botanist, and this book is lavender from a botanist's point of view. Her descriptions of each variety are long on botanical terminology and measurements, and short on information that would help gardeners choose and grow lavender.

Here is an example of an entry, this one for Lavendula angustifolia 'Maillette': A medium plant (60-70cm) of bushy habit with semi-open, mid-green foliage. Penduncles are long (18-25cm), mid-green and upright. There are usually medium-stemmed laterals terminated with one to three flowers. Spikes are long(12-18cm), cylindric and mostly evenly interrupted, with the base whorl 1-7cm below the main spike. Fertile bracts are large and quite long. Bracteoles are thin (1-2 mm). Corollas are violet-blue (93C), calyces are finely pubescent and green, with the upper half dark violet (86A). A very attractive cultivar raised in France and introduced by Pierre Grosso, 'Maillette' is suitable for ornamental, fragrant and oil purposes.

The first section of the book is useful, with information on propagation, pruning, and diseases. But that is only the first 20 pages. The rest of the book consists of descriptions like the above.

Also the author lives in New Zealand, and there is no information on growing lavender in the various climates of the United States.

So much lavender so little time
Lavender blue, dilly dilly, lavender green, If I were king, dilly dilly, I'd need a queen. Congratulations must go to Virginia McNaughton for she must be the queen of Lavender. What an incredible book she has provided for all lavender enthusiasts. Photo after photo and description after description  both tickles and satisfies our curiosity.  So many questions are answered in this book that each time it is reread there is another bit of enlightening information that makes you go' ah ha! now I get it'. A botanist, Ms. McNaughton has provided us with specific detailed descriptions of the plant's origins, the proper botanical nomenclature, the color of the flowers AND the foliage, and special pruning and growing requirements.  She has broken the groups of lavenders up into sections and listed the specifics for that group, for example the Lavandula angustifolias, as well as, the multitude of named varieties that belong to that group. Also of great help are the other common names a plant may be called.  For instance, Dilly, Dilly is a common name of Lavandula x intermedia Grosso.  The only draw back to this book is that when you are finished reading it you just have to have all the lavenders she describes. So many lavenders so little time. ... Read more

Book Description

Here are descriptions and illustrations of 1,492 species from 77 families - virtually all of the wildflowers found from British Columbia to Baja California, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.Grouped by color, each species description includes field marks, size, habitat, range, flowering season, and common and scientific names. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pacific States Wildflowers.
I like the book and the topic, however the binding is is such bad shape that the book is useless in the field or for a more robust usage. Can this be fixed?

A Useful Tool
Though this title may be a little pricy, it is a must have for residents of California, Oregon, and Washington. At any rate, any family within which there is a flower collecter, should have a copy of this excellent resource. Though my family originally purchased this title because of a biology project assigned to my daughter, it has since opened up an interesting world of the natural plant life of this area and even those farther away.

Excellent Field Guide to help identify Wildflowers
I take this guide (and the Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers-- west) on all my field trips to identify wildflowers. Though Peterson has fewer real photos, it does have better aids to identify specific wildflowers, as it is organized by color, as well as number and types of petals. The sketches help me do a preliminary id on the wildflower. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A field of common red poppies growing wild by the roadside can transform an ordinary landscape into a place of mystery--their fervent, insistent color seems designed to take the breath away. For readers who've fallen under the poppy's spell, Christopher Grey-Wilson's Poppies: A Guide to the Poppy Family in the Wild and in Cultivation is an exhaustive work of research and classification of this remarkable and mysterious flower.

The book starts out with a brief, no-nonsense introduction that serves as a road map to the reams of information contained in the subsequent pages. Grey-Wilson, botanist and editor of Alpine Garden Society, has organized the poppy family into four main subfamilies: the Chelidonioideae, Eschscholzioideae, Papveroideae, and Plastytemonoideae. Within these subfamilies a series of varieties are delineated. In entries of varying length, Grey-Wilson provides information about zoning, propagation, advice on garden placement, and various other remarkable and somewhat unpredictable details. While some poppies described here can be found at any local garden store, others are not in cultivationand were last sighted in Turkey or Iran. Containing 182 color photographs, Poppies will satisfy readers who want more than just the basics, who want the whole scientific story, and then some. --Emily White ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A beautifully illustrated guide to the poppy family
This remarkable and beautifully illustrated guide to the poppy family covers both wild and cultivated poppies around the world, updating and extensively revising the only book available on the topic. From general traits and cultivation to specifics to genera and species grouped by subfamilies, Poppies is recommended for college-level horticultural students with a special, technical interest in growing poppies.

Poppies A guide to poppies in the wild and in cultivation
Poppies is a well written and well organized book covering the main subfamilies and genera of the poppy species. Illustrations are included to clarify the in depth descriptions. This book is best suited for someone with a biology/botony background. I would not recomend this book to the casual gardener, as it is more of a college level text, complete with scientific names. The color plate in the middle of the book was a nice addition. ... Read more

Book Description

The turbulent times of one of the world's most beautiful women.

Kate Moss entered the modeling scene with a force that belied her fragile frame. Discovered completely by chance at New York's JFK airport, Moss was propelled to international stardom with her waif-like figure and hauntingly seductive features, launching the infamous "heroin chic" look that dominated the modeling world of the nineties. But living the fast-paced life of an international sex symbol took its toll, and Moss spiraled down into the chaotic celebrity lifestyle of nonstop partying that landed her first in the tabloids, then in rehab. Here, for the first time, is the shocking true story of the passion and pain hiding behind one of the most famous faces in the world. ... Read more

Book Description

Plants convert inorganic nitrogen into amino acids, the building blocks for proteins. They also make a wide range of other nitrogen compounds to help protect themselves from pests and diseases. An understanding of these compounds can therefore help in devising better crop protection and production methods. This volume contains essays by scientists who have studied aspects of plant nitrogen nutrition and amino acid biosynthesis. There are chapters on protein amino acids, nonprotein amino acids, betaines, glutathione, polyamines, and other secondary metabolites derived from amino acids. The results of these studies will be of interest to graduate students and professionals in biochemistry and botany. ... Read more

Book Description

A critical, synthetic and comprehensive account offering discussion of early environments, the history of thought on land plant origins, various approaches used to study early plant evolution and the characteristics of green algae. Includes new ideas regarding evolution, comparative studies of fossil plants and carbon availability. Features abundant illustrations and an extensive bibliography. ... Read more

Book Description

The most complete work on the medicinal plants of western North America, this guide offers the best information in the world on the nearly 500 species covered, much of it available for the first time. More than 530 color photographs illustrate the plants. An index to medical topics helps locate information on specific ailments. Symbols next to the plant descriptions provide quick visual warnings for poisonous and allergenic plants. Organized by flower color for fast identification, this guide is an essential aid to appreciating native plants and the wild areas they inhabit. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Botany contribution.
Peterson's Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs is a contribution to botany and field identification. This guide includes medicinal species, potentially dangerous ones, and plants with true healing powers. There is a description of range, habitat, medicinal uses, and a toxicity warning beside the species listing. Hundreds of species are covered, making a classic guide, one that deserves to revolutionize the botanical field guide section.

Best of Field
Peterson Field Guides has produced another winner. Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and Christopher Hobbs is a gorgeous guide book by, pardon the pun, the leaders in the field. This particular field guides sets the standard by which all medicinal plant guides should follow. Brilliant colour photographs of the over 500 identified species organized by colour for quick reference helps any novice quickly identify the plant and what'll happen if you try to make tea out of it. The detailed plant descriptions also include scientific name, family, location found, historical medicinal uses as well as highlighted warnings for poisons, allergies and other areas of caution. A very unique and special field guide Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs also offers harvesting and conservation tips. Pick this book up before you even considering picking flowers, herbs or plants for uses other than the filling your vase, it's a must have for anyone spending any extended time in the outdoors. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (2)

I love this little book
I love this little book. I've carried it on many hikes, dog walks, and through several years of walking to graduate school. It's easy to use, detailed enough to be helpful, and small enough (my aged copy, at any rate) to fit in your back pocket. Of all of the field guides that I own, I've used this one the most.

Great for beginners who want to learn the basic trees.
This book is great for people who want to learn the basics of different trees, their leaves, their twigs and bark of the trees around their area. If you don't know if the tree grows in your area, you can look at the maps in the book to see if it does. If you like trees and want to learn about them, you'll love this book. I loved this book because it built my foundation for knowledge in trees and their different families. ... Read more

Book Description

No one has done more to popularize mushrooms in America than Amy Farges, food writer and co-owner of the national mushroom distributor Aux Delices Des Bois. And now that Ms. Farges made sure mushrooms are available, she shows what to do with them. THE MUSHROOM COOKBOOK AND PRIMER is an inspiration-a mushroom extravaganza with 175 exquisite yet easy-to-make recipes, plus a Mushroom 101 guide to selecting, storing, cleaning, and cooking, plus a primer with full profiles and photographs of 40 exotic mushrooms.Full of sweet succulence, toothsome crunch, and haunting flavors from earthy to fruity to seafood-like, mushrooms offer the home cook a dazzling range of possibilities. Here are finger foods: Morels with Calvados, Ovoli and Fig Crostini, Wild Mushroom Bruschetta. Lighter offerings: Porcini Carpaccio, Cream of Asparagus Soup with Roasted Cremini, Blewitt and Crab Rolls. Glorious pairings: Risotto with Corn and Chanterelles, Sirloin Steak with Wine Caps, Mustard-coated Lamb Chops with Wild Oysters, Truffled Lobster with Cilantro Butter, Duck and Shiitake Tortillas. And the unexpected: Black Trumpet Biscuits, Portobello and Basil Salsa, Hen of the Wood Ravioli. A dozen fitting mushroomless desserts offer the irresistible finish. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fabulous for funghi lovers!
I recommend this book for fungi lovers old and new. Great tips and fabulous recipes, along with cute family stories. I use this book often for dinner parties and family dinners. The colorful cover makes a great coffee table addition, but I use the book so frequently I can't keep it out of my kitchen. I have given many as gifts to my culinary friends. It's a winner.

DELECTABLE
I watched my husband glace at the book and he just started reading it and about 15 minutes later I realized he was still reading it. He doesn't even cook! Anyway, inspired by his attention to this tome, I grabbed my tea yesterday and hung out on the pet's couch for a good read! I was not disappointed! I now feel I wouldn't be shy about cooking with exotic mushrooms. I can't wait to try the mushroom chile (which I read about in Metropolitan Home mag.)for the Superbowl Party tomorrow. Wow! Thanks Amy Farges!

A mouth-watering compendium of more than 175 recipes
A mouth-watering compendium of more than 175 recipes, Amy Farges' The Mushroom Lover's Mushroom Cookbook And Primer is enhanced with a "Mushroom 101" guide and an innovative shopping and preparation primer for more than 30 edible fungi. From Crepe Pouches with Shiitakes, Seared Cod with Porcini a la Grecque, and Lamb Broth with Autumn Mushrooms and Pearl Barley, to Mushroom Cornmeal Muffins, and Old-World Polenta, The Mushroom Lover's Mushroom Cookbook And Primer offers a cornucopia of delicious eating inspired by common and exotic mushrooms, and eminently suitable both for family meals and special event celebrations.

DON'T MISS THIS GEM!
I bought this to give as a gift, and ended up cooking from it, and now it's ALL MINE. The recipes cover just about every kind of cuisine, including comfort foods like cream of mushroom soup, etc. I knew about portobellos, but man, this portobello salsa was way off my radar! I did it ahead and it was incredible! Served it with tortilla chips. Another cool thing is that in the back, there's a page for each mushroom , w/ a picture, and how to store and cook them. I give this cookbook my best-ever rating!
... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

225 drawings
* 6 x 9
* Completely revised and updated, with range maps and quick-referenceidentification keys
* More than 30 new species described and illustrated

William Carey Grimm's classic Illustrated Book of Trees--the authority ineastern North American tree identification for over 40 years--is nowavailable in a completely updated edition, describing recently-introducedspecies and incorporating changes in taxonomy, nomenclature, andgeographic range.

By observing the leaves, flowers, and fruits of a tree in summer or itstwigs, buds, and bark in winter, readers can easily identify a speciesthrough Grimm's full-page illustrations, classification keys, and concisespecies descriptions. Written in straightforward, non-scientific languagefor beginning botanists of any age. Glossary of terms and a completeindex are included.

John Kartesz is a professor of botany and the founder/director of theBiota of North America Program at the University of North Carolina atChapel Hill. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More than identification
I bought my 1983 edition when I was active as a park district volunteer. What sold me on this book was that it went beyond the tree's identification, and told you more about the tree itself. For example, looking up the Sycamore it says "The Sycamore is also known as the Buttonwood, Buttonball-tree, and the American Plane Tree. It is one of the most massive of all our native trees, perhaps exceeding all others in the diameter of its trunk... The wood is heavy, hard, tough and coarse-grained; being difficult to work or split. It is used for furniture - both solid and veneer, interior finish, siding, musical instruments, boxes and crates. Practically all butcher's blocks are made from the Sycamore..." and so on.

This Grimm is no fairy-tale
Very nice book! The edition I own is the 1983 printing, so I am unfamiliar with recent changes. Book has good drawings of leaves (often several), fruits, twigs, buds and leaf scars. Excellent info on summer and winter identification included in text and step-by-step outlines. The step-by-step outline starts at the front of the book and helps you identify the family in which the tree in question belongs. Then turn to the section on that tree family for help isolating which species you have on your hands. There are good text descriptions throughout to aid identification as well as information on history, growth, and commercial uses of the trees. Not a field guide for the size and weight conscious though. Keep it in your living room or SUV. ... Read more

Book Description

An Instant Guide to Trees is an ideal compact identification guide to trees commonly seen in gardens, parks, and in the countryside.
This user-friendly guide assumes no previous knowledge: an easy-to-follow system of color-coded bands and symbols (denoting different leaf shapes) leads quickly to the correct section of the book.Detailed, full-color illustrations of leaves, shape of tree, fruit and flowers, plus a concise but informative text, make it easy to identify positively nearly 200 trees found in North America."Lookalike" panels help prevent confusion between trees of similar appearance. ... Read more

Book Description

This book aims to provide for the first time in the English language a concise but comprehensive overview of the biology and cultivation of the grapevine, accessible to all concerned with viticulture.After a description of the essential features of viticulture, including a concise history from antiquity to modern times, the authors consider the taxonomy of the grapevine and the evolutionary processes that gave rise to the diversity within the Vitaceae. Particular attention is paid to the genera Vitis and Muscadinia, which are considered a reserve of genetic variation for the improvement of grapevines.A description of the vegetative and reproductive anatomy of the grapevine precedes a full discussion of the developmental and environmental physiology of these fascinating and economically important plants.The concluding chapter considers the potential for genetic improvement of grapevines and includes coverage of the problems encountered, and the methods and strategies employed, in breeding for scions and rootstocks.Special reference to the role of plant biotechnology and tissue culture in the genetic improvement of grapevines is also made. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An original and interesting approach to grapevine biology
I would recommend this book to all those interested in plant science, horticulture, and particularly viticulture. Not an ultimate collection of knowledge in this area, but a very nice and original contribution to it. ... Read more