Abstract This paper refers to several articles on the history of English agriculture after the late 16th century. The writer discusses the importance of enclosure, in relation to agrarian business orientation and looks at its social effects. The paper also explores Marxist versus research based approaches, favouring the second, as enclosure developed piecemeal, not in the sweeping way that Marxists claim it changed the countryside and all class relations.
From the Paper "Marxist historians have made much of the effects of enclosure and engrossment in British agrarian history that resulted in much movement of the rural population, in the later 17th and early 18th century to towns that would offer employment with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. As Mark Overton explained, rural wages altered greatly in England through the 18th century, in irregular wage levels in the north, and then in the south, that were affected by the extent to which enclosure had taken form, and also, competing sources of wages in the towns.
Abstract The paper shows how Malthus believed that famine was the natural mechanism that reduced a population whenever the number of individuals in a particular area exceeded the carrying capacity of the land. The paper explains, however, that famine is a direct result of increased agricultural production. The more food we produce, the more people are born, leaving the problem of overpopulation and famine for subsequent generations.
From the Paper ""Population has this constant tendency to increase beyond the means of subsistence ... the ultimate check to population appears then to be a want of food." (Thomas Malthus, An Essay on the Principle of Population, pages 2-6.) Thomas Malthus, when he originally wrote those words way back in 1798, believed that unchecked population growth will ultimately be arrested by one of three factors: emigration, disease, and famine (Manning, 2004: 81). Of the three of those factors, it is apparent from the above quote that Malthus believed famine to be the final and ultimate solution to rapid population growth. In the two centuries since Malthus made himself famous - or infamous depending on one's perspective - the man and his ideas have been the brunt of exceeding criticism from the scientific and non-scientific communities. The reason is simple.
Abstract This paper discusses the effect on agriculture on changes in fuel costs, the market economy, and technology. It notes how changes in the external environment have affected the way those in agriculture do business and so the prices charged at the market, adding to costs or reducing them, depending on the nature of the change and the way farmers are able to respond.
From the Paper "Agriculture is like any other sector of the economy and is affected by many of the same forces, including changes in fuel use and fuel prices, the market economy, and technology. The first of these forces is in the news now as agriculture has to raise its prices to cover higher fuel costs for farm machinery and for delivery costs. The nature of the economy affects agriculture by raising prices for other goods, which also can cause farmers to raise their prices to stay ahead of inflation. New technology can be both a capital expenditure to buy what is needed and a boon by increasing production and reducing costs over all. Such changes in the external environment have affected the way those in agriculture do business and so the prices charged at the market."
Abstract This paper discusses the crop of chamomile. It focuses on harvesting, preparing the soil, planting, insecticides, fertilizing, marketing, distributing and other preparations for the crop of chamomile. It is a study developed through a series of questions for the paper, with emphasis on exploring how the farmer plans, produces and markets an herbal crop in the United States.
From the Paper "Chamomile is a botanical herb, also known as anthemis nobilis (common manzanilla, or maythen chamomile), anthemis cotula (mayweed, maruta cotula, dog chamomile, maruta foetida, or dog-fennel), and matricaria chamomilla (German or wild chamomile) (Grieve). The plant has been documented as having been used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Spaniards for medicinal purposes (Grieve). Chamomile is an herb that can be reproduced annually, or re-grown from new plants each year. The leaves of the plant are light green in color, with a feather-like appearance. Its flower, which blooms on the stem from May through October, has a "daisy" appearance. Chamomile is produced as an herb for foods, for medicines, and as ground cover for protecting other crops (Grieve)."
Abstract This paper is a literature review on research into the effects of drought stress on potatoes. The paper shows how drought stress can cause trauma to the plant organism and cause changes in the way the plant develops. It examines whether that plant can reproduce effectively and pass on certain desired traits to the next generation. This raises concerns about how crops fare from one season to the next.
From the Paper "The effect of drought stress on the vegetative and reproductive traits of the potato has been studied to find ways to improve the crop and to prevent damage. Drought stress is clearly brought on by periods of drought, causing trauma to the plant organism and causing changes in the way the plant develops and in whether that plant can reproduce effectively and pass on certain desired traits to the next generation. This raises concerns about how crops fare from one season to the next, as is noted by one analyst from Montana State University: High-quality potato yields can be achieved only by maintaining a uniformly high level of available water throughout the crop season."
Abstract This paper examines the viability of growing produce like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in an bog environment. It looks at the characteristics of bogs and suggests that although the land would be very inexpensive, the habitat alterations would be prohibitively expensive.
From the Paper "There is a great deal of interest in developing land use strategies to better utilize natural resources. One area that is being considered is bog management. In particular the possibility of using bogs as agricultural sites. In order to begin to understand the issues involved in bog agriculture it is necessary to understand what a bog is. A bog is defined as, "An aquatic system characterized by the presence of sphagnum moss, high acidity, and often no water outlet" (Krohne 704). From this definition it can be seen why bogs are often of little commercial value. "
Abstract This paper discusses the provincial government's Agricultural Land Commission and the policies it enforces on land use in British Columbia. It looks at how the scarcity of agricultural land and the importance of food self-sufficiency, combined with competing demands for farmland for non-farm uses, convinced the government that preserving farmland for agricultural purposes was a matter of provincial interest and importance.
From the Paper "Due to increased competition and the increasing demands of the contemporary consumer, the need for establishing sustainable industries that enhance quality of life is crucial when creating a thriving local business environment. However, in recent years business development has taken a back seat to environmental protectionism in part due to the lack of suitable land for agricultural and farm use. "
Abstract This paper reviews the competitive forces of the wine industry apparent in Washington State. According to this paper, Washington State is a major source of wine for the domestic and foreign markets, with wine regions that include six federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The paper also compares the area with that of the great French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy.
From the Paper "California gets more attention as a wine producer, but Washington State is also a major source of wine for the domestic and foreign markets. The Washington area offers several key elements that serve as competitive advantages for the Washington wine industry. First, Washington is located on approximately the same latitude as the great French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Washington wine regions also include six federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). These regions experience a variety of climates and soils, and combined with the long summer sunlight hours of northern latitudes, this fact creates prime growing regions, most of them found in the valleys and on the hillsides of areas east of the Cascade Mountains."
Abstract This paper answers several questions about gardens and landscape architecture, beginning with the mythology of the Garden of Eden, which is depicted as nature and human life in an unsullied form, not yet marked by sin and with the different species living in complete harmony. According to this paper, it is harmony that is the hallmark of the garden at this stage, and the garden in Western culture is often seen as a locale to which the individual can return to capture some of that sense of a connection to the natural world and a link to God.
From the Paper "The Garden of Eden is depicted as nature and human life in an unsullied form, not yet marked by sin and with the different species living in complete harmony. Indeed, it is harmony that is the hallmark of the garden at this stage, and the garden in Western culture is often seen as a locale to which the individual can return to capture some of that sense of a connection to the natural world and a link to God. In Christian mythology, Sin is the daughter of Satan, but she will also bear him a son, Death."
Abstract This paper discusses the methodology described in an article by Christopher J. Moran and Elisabeth N. Bui entitled "Spatial Data Mining for Enhanced Soil Map Modeling". This paper notes the terrain attributes the researchers saw as better-suited to landscape description as predictors of soil type, using a map sampling strategy and testing it on a region in eastern Australia.
From the Paper "Christopher J. Moran and Elisabeth N. Bui test a new methodology for improving the quality of the soil map models generated by rule induction. In their method, the researchers considered terrain attributes they saw as better-suited to landscape description as predictors of soil type, using a map sampling strategy. The authors use the Murray-Darling Basin (MBD) in eastern Australia as an example of an area not now covered by any detailed form of land-resource inventory, and the authors use their method of spatial modeling to develop soil-landscape models in areas that have been surveyed and then to extend these across the unmapped areas. While this is a logical approach, it raises the question of how certain the authors can be that the model for mapped areas can be extended across unmapped areas. "
Abstract This paper discusses the role of agricultural subsidization in developed countries through the examination of the consumer price index (CPI), per capita income levels, and the per capita expenditures on food within the CPI weighted averages. The paper hypothesizes that agricultural subsidies actually inflate the price of food commodities, which has an exacerbating effect on the economy and the lower income demographic.
From the Paper "The primary issue is the supposition that government agricultural subsidies disrupt the natural market forces that dictate the free-market premise that prices seek their own level. This principle of price disruption caused by agricultural subsidies is, perforce, most apparent in the price of food and food products. The result, and the proposed hypothesis, is that consumers actually pay higher prices for food items that would otherwise be the case sans agricultural subsidization by government entities. Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to illustrate the reality of the hypothesis in order to establish and build a case to end agricultural subsidization by developed countries around the globe."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the industrial revolution and its effects on agriculture. The paper reviews the pre-industrial history of agriculture as well as the sweeping changes within the agricultural sector during the eventful period when the manufacturing sector was being transformed by a wave of technological innovation. The paper concludes by noting how inextricably linked are agricultural change and technological change.
Abstract This research paper briefly describes the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) of California. The paper provides a detailed description of the bug and its native habitat. The paper also describes the ways in which the bug is a danger to various crops, particularly focusing on its unique colours.
From the Paper "Research Paper: The Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Bug This research paper will briefly describe the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) of California. By providing a detailed description of the bug and its native habitat, one can realize the danger of this bug to various crops. In essence, the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter represents a thriving and charismatic insect, yet a danger to the crops that grow in its native Californian and Arizonian habitat. The unique colors and form of the Winged-Glassy Sharpshooter give hints as to why its name has been widely used. Although its formal name is Latin scientific name is Homalodisca coagulata, the glass-winged aspect of the bug's name relates more to the physical look of it shiny wings. The University of California describes the insect in detail: A large insect almost 1/2 inch (12 mm) long the glassy-winged sharpshooter is dark brown to black with a lighter underside. "
Abstract This paper describes how two native tribes, the Kogi and the Kallawaya, have adapted to the conditions of the Andes mountains. There are similarities and differences in how these two groups have approached survival in this harsh climate. Both groups have relied on vertical farming and living in order to maximize arable land for food production and dwelling.
From the Paper "Ancient Andean Tribes: the Kogi and the Kallawaya The Andes mountain range is home to two different groups of native dwellers. One group, the Kogi tribe, descendants of the Tairona, lives in the mountains of Colombia. The second group, the Kallawaya, is native to Bolivia. Both groups have adapted effectively to living in the harsh Andes climate; however, they have adapted quite differently from each other. This paper will be used to describe several of the similarities and several of the differences that exist between these groups. The ancient Andean tribes created a method of adapting to their environment known as 'verticality' or the 'vertical archipelago.' The tribes that lived in these hostile mountain regions created a series of pastures and croplands that often stretched for "sixty or more kilometers from top to bottom, [which] allowed a critical mass of people to assemble who could undertake the enormous work of terracing"
Abstract In this essay, the writer discusses that the effect of natural disturbances such as hurricanes, storms, tornadoes and volcanic activity upon forest ecosystems is a sorely unexplored phenomenon which has extorted frustratingly empty conclusions. The writer points out that current research has acknowledged that such effects are generally varied unpredictable and particular to each individual situation. Furthermore, the writer notes that the effect of such disturbances on forest ecology can be seen as either positive or negative as regards an afflicted ecosystem, possibly both.
