The lower Mississippi River winds past the City of New Orleans between enormous levees and a rim of sand, mud, and trees called "the batture." On this remote and ignored piece of land thrives a humanity unique to the region-ramblers, artists, drinkers, fishers, rabbit hunters, dog walkers, sunset watchers, and refugees from Immigration, alimony, and other aspects of modern life.

Author Oliver A. Houck has frequented this place for the past twenty-five years. "Down on the Batture" describes a life, pastoral, at times marginal, but remarkably fecund and surprising. From this place he meditates on Louisiana, the state of the waterway, and its larger environs. He describes all the actors that have played lead roles on the edge of the mightiest river of the continent, and includes in his narrative plantations, pollution, murder, land grabs, keelboat brawlers, slave rebellions, the Corps of Engineers, and the oil industry.

Houck draws from his experience in New Orleans since the early 1970s in the practice and teaching of law. He has been a player in many of the issues he describes, although he does not undertake to argue them here. Instead, story by story, he uses the batture to explore the forces that have shaped and spell out the future of the region. The picture emerges of a place that---for all its tangle of undergrowth, drifting humanity, shifting dimensions in the rise and fall of floodwater---provides respite and sanctuary for values that are original to America and ever at risk from the homogenizing forces of civilization.

The Pekingese - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: The New Book Of The Dog by Robert Leighton (1907), Dogs And How To Know Them by Edward C. Ash (1925), Hutchinson's Dog Encyclopaedia by Walter Hutchinson (1935) and many others.

This book should become the "Camper's Guide" for anyone interested in staying at any of the state parks and waysides in Minnesota. It is filled with details of each of the parks and waysides; what facilities are available from one park to the next, descriptions of the campgrounds and the campsites, and what points of interest may be nearby. Along with all of the information, there are maps of the campgrounds and a map of each of the parks included. But, that is only one part of the book. Another part of the book describes the adventure that was had by the author and his wife as they traveled the highways and back roads of Minnesota getting from one park to the next. There is detailed information concerning the history of many of the parks because the diversity of the state parks is just a mirror of nature's diversity here in the great state of Minnesota.

This early work on poultry husbandry is a fascinating read for any poultry enthusiast, but also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. It will prove of much interest to the amateur poultry keeper as well as those in the field of agriculture. Extensively illustrated with text and full page photographs. Contents Include: The Beginner; Breeds and Strains; Houses and Appliances; Foods and Feeding; Hatching; Rearing; Domestic Poultry Keeping; Intensive Poultry Keeping; Winter Egg-Production; Day-Old Chicks; Ducks; Turkeys; Geese; Guinea Fowls; Diseases of Poultry; Enemies of Poultry; Egg-Preserving; Killing and Shaping; Marketing; Accounts; and an Index. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This early work is a fascinating guide to fowl that is a thoroughly recommended title for the amateur and professional poultry keeper's bookshelf. Extensively illustrated with diagrams, drawings and photographs, its 492 pages are an A to Z of domestic fowl breeds. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

John Muir (1838- 1914) was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and the modern day "patron saint of ecology." His writings on his adventures in the various wildernesses of America have been enjoyed by millions. His ecological activism helped to preserve many of the national parks, enabling others to enjoy nature. He founded the Sierra Club, which is one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. Although his upbringing put him off religion for life he was an immensely spiritual man, and this quality and enthusiasm pervades all his writings, inspiring his readers, including politicians to preserve the natural landscapes. For this reason he is known as the "Father of the National Parks." Author William Anderson, said that Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth," and biographer Donald Worster said he believed his mission was ..".saving the American soul from total surrender to materialism." The Mountains of California (1894) draws on his many, decades of exploration, describing with poetic beauty and awe the lakes, mountains, plants and animals. Stickeen (1909) is Muir's most popular book, describing his adventures in Alaska with a dog. My First Summer in the Sierra (1911) is Muir's description of his spiritual awakening when he first encountered the mountains and valleys of central California. The Story of My Boyhood and Youth (1913) is Muir's autobiography, detailing his strict upbringing in Scotland, his emigration with his family to America, aged eleven, and of his first delight with the natural world. Travels in Alaska (1915), In the late 1800s, Muir made several trips to the pristine, unspoilt territory of Alaska, drawn to its beauty and purity, its glaciers and its wild animals - bears, bald eagles, wolves, and whales. The Cruise of the Corwin (1917), In 1881, the steamship Thomas Corwin voyaged into the treacherous Arctic seas to search for the lost ship Jeannette, which had been lost. The ship was not found, but Muir's account of this expedition is poetic and magical, describing the glaciers, vegetation and seas of this mysterious land. Steep Trails(1919), This book was derived from letters, articles and local publications written by John Muir, arranged in roughly chronological sequence. The chapters describing Nevada, San Gabriel and Utah were written in the field, and have great immediacy, describing Muir's first impressions. The Yosemite(1920), In this book Muir recounts his adventures during the years he lived in the Yosemite Valley's spectacular scenery. Muir captures the breath-taking beauty of the area alongside his most ambitious adventures; looking over the brink of Yosemite Falls, climbing a hundred feet up into a high, hollow ice-cone, and climbing to the top of Half Dome, covered with a fresh blanket of snow.

The Papillon - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: Dogs And How To Know Them by Edward C. Ash (1925), Dogs Of The World by Arthur Craven (1931), The Book Of Dogs by Stanley West (1935) and many others.

The Japanese bombing of Wake Island began a mere few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 8, 1941. Thirty-six Japanese aircraft blasted the atoll's US base and destroyed eight of twelve aircraft. For fifteen days American troops suffered endless bombardments until the second major Japanese offensive was launched on 23rd December. The battle took place on and around the atoll and its minor islets by the air, land, and naval forces of the Japanese Empire against those of the United States, with Marines playing a prominent role on both sides. Against overwhelming forces the Marines and other troops that were stationed on the island fought valiantly, but after forty-nine men had lost their lives in the fight, the remaining American men and civilians were captured by the Japanese.

Originally published in Edinburgh 1892. One of the most important books dealing with the noble breed of Scottish Deerhound. The illustrated contents include detailed chapters on: The Supposed Origin of Dogs From Various Past and Present Day Authorities - Various Theories Respecting the Original Scottish Deerhound - The Modern Deerhound - Deerhounds in Connection with Deerstalking - Plates and Descriptions of Celebrated Deerhounds - Proposed Deerhound Club - Appendix etc. Many of the earliest dog books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This early work is an absorbing read for any chinchilla owner or historian of the breed, but also contains a wealth of information and anecdote that is still useful and practical today. Contents Include: Introduction; Observations Relative to disease in Chinchillas; Handling and Administering Drugs; How to Submit Specimens to a Diagnostic Laboratory for Examination; Respiratory Conditions Affecting Chinchillas; Nutrition and Its Relation to Disease; Facts to Consider When Feeding; Disease Conditions Affecting the Mouth, Teeth and Esophacus, Diseases Affecting the Gastro-Intestinal Tract; Bacterial Infections; Factors Affecting Reproduction; The Chinchilla Baby; Fur Conditions; Metabolic Disease Conditions; Eye Conditions; Ear Conditions; Liver Conditions; Kidney Conditions; Poisoning Conditions; and Parasitic Conditions. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

"Whether she's writing about the staccato of a hairy woodpecker echoing through the woods, tapping sweet sap from a cluster of maples during a spring sugaring ritual or mourning the loss of her ox, Tolstoy, Joan Donaldson's sensuous prose shimmers and surprises. Her collection of essays, Wedded to the Land, peels back the skin of her blueberry farm with the precision and eloquence of a Wendell Berry, Edward Abbey, and other agrarian essayists who make us pine for the lost heart of the country." --George Getschow, writer-in-residence, The Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism, former editor for the Wall Street Journal John thought he was building a garage when he erected a timber-frame building only a stone's throw from the house we built on the back of our farm. While washing the dishes, I mulled over how pleasant it would be to look out our kitchen window and watch goats lounge in a paddock. If goats lived in the new shed, the walk wouldn't be far when milking in the winter or during kidding season. Once outside, I scanned the sixteen-by-twenty-foot framework. "You know, a couple of goats would fit nicely in here. There's room for two stalls." John's hammer paused. I continued. "The aspens and honeysuckle on the north would shelter an outdoor pen." I tied on a nail apron and picked up a hammer.

Discover the fascinating world of mushrooms with this beautiful pocket guide, featuring trivia, history, identification tips, delicious recipes and more One of nature’s most extraordinary organisms can be found right under your feet: the mushroom. For thousands of years these fungi have intrigued humankind, providing food, inspiring folklore and proving to be both poison and cure. The Little Book of Mushrooms will allow you to uncover this mysterious kingdom for yourself. Learn the difference between a giant puffball and a scarlet elf cup and discover how mushrooms and the fungal network help plant life to communicate. You will also find: Fascinating facts about the fungi kingdom Mushroom folklore from around the world A beginner’s guide to identifying common wild mushrooms A collection of delicious mushroom-based recipes  Mushrooms are vital to life on earth, and this book will be your guide to these spectacular organisms that have influenced our past and could shape our future.

This early guide to incubation and brooding is a fascinating read for any poultry keeper or historian of the breed. Thoroughly recommended for inclusion on the bookshelf of any smallholder or hen keeping enthusiast it contains much information and anecdote that is still useful and practical today. Ten photographs accompany the text. Contents Include: Replacing the Flock; Incubation - Time to hatch, Sanitation in incubation, Selecting hatching eggs, Hatching with hens, Hatching with incubators, Increasing demand for day-old chicks; Brooding - Sanitation in brooding, Brooding chickens with hens, Artificial brooding, Brooder houses, Brooding chicks in confinement, Battery brooding, Necessary precautions, Probable causes of poor results in brooding; Care of chickens after the brooding season. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This early work is a fascinating read for any goat enthusiast or historian of the breed, but also contains much information that is still useful and practical for the amateur or professional goat farmer today. Extensively illustrated with text and full page photographs and diagrams. Contents Include: Preface; There's Milk in Your Backyard; What Breed to Buy?; How to Buy a Good Doe; The Goat's Quarters; Feeding for More Milk; Grooming the Goat; Milking and Care of Milk and Equipment; Breeding-Good and Bad; The Buck; Kidding; Feeding the Kids; Removing Horns; Chevon; Keeping Goats Healthy; Goat Milk and Cream; Making Butter at Home; Making Cheese from Goat Milk; What to do with Manure; Goats as a Business; and an Index. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Bob Mander was born in 1939. He considered himself fortunate to be educated at Birkenhead School and afterwards at Southampton University where he studied for a B.A. Honours degree in Geography with ancillary History. His main interest was in geomorphology, the structure and formation of the landscape features of the earth. After an education course, he took up a career in teaching, during which he undertook a further education course and one in geology. He spent his whole teaching career with Liverpool Education Authority before taking early retirement in 1996.
In retirement he took a more spiritual approach to life encouraged by his wife, Avis, and others. This led on to a consideration of the effect that the landscape of Britain had on the lives of our ancient peoples and vice versa. This in turn led on to a study of our sacred landscape and the religious experiences of Neolithic and Bronze Age man in Britain.
This book is not a treatment of the archaeology of the British Isles but rather an attempt to draw together the disparate strands of what goes into the making of the sacred landscape and what went into the makeup of the religion of our early ancestors.

Updated to include the most notable incidents through the summer of 2004, the new edition features recent rescues and rescue attempts from the icy slopes of Mount Rainier to the seas off of Acadia National Park.