Since Antiquity few trees have had a greater impact on the world's culture and economy than the mulberry. The sole food of the silkworm, the leaves of the mulberry brought prosperity not only to ancient China, but to all nations that learned the art of silk production. Mulberry bark was used to make the first paper and the succulent, blood-red fruit of the Black Mulberry has inspired poets from Ovid to Shakespeare. The medicinal properties of all parts of the tree have been known for millennia, making it a tree of choice for medieval monastery gardens, while its anti-diabetic effects are opening exciting avenues of research today. This sumptuously illustrated book tells the remarkable story of the mulberry tree and its migrations from China and Central Asia to almost every continent of the globe. It will appeal to all who wish to know more of the rich history of this emblematic tree.

In einer Zeitspanne von 15 Jahren hat sich die Spanplattenindustrie zum groessten Zweig der Holzindustrie entwickelt. In allen Erdteilen ent- stehen neue Spanplattenwerke. Die Kurve der Produktion zeigt noch keine Anzeichen fur eine Abflachung. Im Gebiet der Bundesrepublik Deutschland wurde im Jahr 1961 die Grenze von 1 Million Kubikmeter uberschritten, wobei die Tagesproduktion der grossen Werke um oder uber 400 Kubikmeter liegt. Die weitgehend automatisierten Maschinen- anlagen erfordern eine sorgfaltige Betriebsuberwachung, die an das Kontrollpersonal hohe Anspruche stellt. Da die Schwierigkeiten der Spanplattenherstellung haufig unter- schatzt werden, besteht die Gefahr, dass gut kontrollierte Qualitats- erzeugnisse durch minderwertige Platten in Misskredit kommen. Um ihr zu begegnen, wurde schon im Jahr 1956 mit dem Aufbau einer deut- schen Guteschutzorganisation begonnen. Die Grundlagen einer solchen Organisation sind Prufverfahren und Gutebedingungen, die in verhalt- nismassig kurzer Zeit in die Form von DIN-Normen gebracht werden mussten. Diese Vorarbeiten sind im wesentlichen im Forschungsinstitut fur Holzwerkstoffe und Holzleime in Karlsruhe ausgefuhrt worden. Wegen der gebotenen Eile haben die Forschungsergebnisse aber keinen Niederschlag in der Fachliteratur gefunden. Der Kreis der in der deut- schen Gutegemeinschaft Spanplatten zusammengeschlossenen Hersteller- werke nimmt rasch zu, so dass es erforderlich ist, die ganze Industrie mit diesen Arbeiten vertraut zu machen. Der Wunsch, die Vorarbeiten des Karlsruher Instituts mit einer Anleitung zum Aufbau der Betriebsuber- wachung abzuschliessen und diese in Buchform herauszugeben, ging vom Verband der deutschen Sperrholz-und Spanplattenindustrie aus (VDSS).

Taking a closer look at the fundamentals of the green and wild life forms that exist around us. With a photographer's eye, viewing the very things that we take for granted and easily dismiss as an abundant source of the natural world. But could this be construed as disposable? This book does not shy away from the hard realities of, or attempt to glamorise, the climate discussion. It modulates the voices, pensive, concerned, engaged or ignoring, from which is created the colours within a silent world of nature. The Colour of Silence is about mindfulness and a clear-focused look at life on Earth, contemplating the curious truth about nature. This widely respected photographer artist, Clare Newton uses her intriguing and unusual photographs to explore the wonders of nature. "Art has a vital role to play in our sense of well-being through immersion in the natural world by enhancing our awareness of the diversity of life that abounds there." The perception of the superiority of one life form over another, and in particular of humanity over the remainder of the natural world, may well have contributed in no small way to the environmental predicament that confronts us today. Alongside Newton's images, runs another narrative: Could there be a different way of perceiving nature and our human place within it with fresh eyes, untainted by past preconceptions? Can her unassuming photographer's eye help to show life as it actually is, not as we might imagine or desire it to be? Kate Humble BBC Wildlife and Science Presenter says 'A beautiful & thought provoking book.'

How did the delphinium get its name? Which parts of the body lend their names to auriculas and orchids? Who are the gentian, lobelia and heuchera named after? Why are nasturtiums and antirrhinums connected? What does an everlasting pea have to do with Indian miniature paintings? These are some of the questions answered in Peter Parker's adventurous exploration of the mysteries of Botanical Latin. Evolved over many centuries and often thought to belong to the rarefied world of scholars and scientists, this invented language is in fact a very useful tool for everyday gardening. It allows us to find our way around nurseries; it sorts out confusions when two plants have the same English name; and it gives us all kinds of information about how big or small a plant will grow, what shape or colour it will develop, and what habitat it prefers. In his lively survey, Parker agues that Botanical Latin is not merely useful, but fun. The naming of plants draws upon geography, social and medical history, folklore, mythology, language, literature, the human body, the animal kingdom and all manner of ancient beliefs and superstitions. The book, beautifully illustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, includes handy lists of identifying adjectives, and takes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour and eccentricity.

Offers the most comprehensive full colour guide too South African wild flowers produced on the sub-continent. It is both a standard reference work and a user-friendly field guide. It establishes a new standard with 2450 colour photographs, over 2000 species, distribution maps, drawings, common names in seven local languages, colour coding and a key to the families (632 pages). The maps cover a large part of the summer rainfall region from East London in the Eastern Cape to southern Mozambique, inland to eastern Free State, Gauteng, Northern Province and Mpumalanga including Lesotho and Swaziland.

One of the world's first tree-top scientists, Meg Lowman is both a pioneer in her field - she invented one of the first treetop walkways - and a tireless advocate for the planet. In a voice as infectious in its enthusiasm as in its practical optimism, The Arbornaut chronicles her irresistible story. From climbing solo hundreds of feet into Australia's rainforests to measuring tree growth in the northeastern United States, from searching the redwoods of the Pacific coast for new life to studying leaf-eaters in Scotland's Highlands, from a bioblitz in Malaysia to conservation planning in India to collaborating with priests in Ethiopia's last forests, Lowman launches us into the life and work of a scientist and ecologist. She also offers hope, specific plans and recommendations for action; despite devastation across the world, we can still make an immediate and lasting impact against climate change.