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The pinnacle of orchid hunting activity was in the nineteenth century when prices for individual plants reached astonishing levels. Such were the profits to be made that many of the most active orchid hunters were directly employed by orchid nurseries in Britain and Europe. These were not the aristocratic administrators of empire; they were trained gardeners and horticulturalists who had a yearning to travel and see for themselves where the plants they nurtured had come from. In this book we explore the activities of these orchid hunters through the years, from the eighteenth century right into the twenty-first century, when the camera replaced the axe and spade. Many of these stories are rarely told in the context of the society that demanded ever bigger and more flamboyant orchids. Some were collected and the sites they had come from forgotten. Some were so valuable that the sites were kept secret, or misleading information given about their origin, even the wrong country being suggested for some. Orchid hunting was not always safe and some collectors never came home. Of those that did return, contemporary documents suggest that some of the stories they came back with enhanced the value of their plants, but were not always entirely accurate in their details. Using original documents as source material, for the first time tales of orchids lost and found, as well as those that sought them, are told in their entirety.

First published in 2005. This second edition of Genetics DNA Technology retains the original's focus on professional lawyers. Not a law textbook, it is an adjunct to those who are studying law or want to become forensic scientists.

Glorious flower meadows were part of our life force for 2000 years or more before we swept them away last century on the altar of progress. Is there to be no more drinking from their font of well being? This book says not. Lavishly illustrated, it describes their history and, from the few remaining examples, it shows us how beautiful they are, how rich in plants and animals. It coaches us in their creation, even in small gardens, or their restoration in larger fields. It tells of the extraordinary lives of even the most ordinary denizens, little secrets that make the meadow's world go around and the convoluted links between the many plants and animals that keep everything in balance. Their stories are woven, season-by-season, into a year in the life of two meadows, a small, garden meadow and a larger old paddock. We hear of birds that plant trees, bacteria that become plant organelles, plants that drink from other plants, plants that fool or poison insects and insects that turn the tables, ants that foster butterflies, mice that navigate by compass, snails that house bees and how all of these connections, together with the flow of energy and nutrients, result in a healthy ecosystem. The book even suggests how adults and children alike can see these things for themselves. So, read this book and help your local green space to become a meadow and revel in it.

A beautifully illustrated, step-by-step guide to growing native orchids from seed in your garden.Learn how to cherish these remarkable flowers and help them flourish in their natural habitat with this easy-to-use guide. Native orchids are neither difficult to cultivate nor require special conditions to thrive, and while a large meadow may be beyond the reach of most, the corner of a garden or a pot on a patio can provide a home to a spectacular display. This unique book includes valuable information on which species of orchids will work in your garden and what companion plants to grow next to them, as well as instructions on how to grow orchids from seed or in a container and how to start an orchid meadow or add orchids to an orchard, preserving and promoting local ecosystems.Beautifully illustrated throughout with photographs and illustrations, this essential guide will show you how easy it is to grow native orchids and how to create a protected environment in which declining species can thrive undisturbed.

This book charts the historical development of citizen science, from its earliest days with amateur individuals working on their own, to the modern incarnation which often sees large numbers of people cooperating on environmental or health projects. It will help project designers understand the heritage of citizen science, including the best way to avoid previous mistakes, and how to ensure results that are both reliable and informative. It also encourages individuals to participate and to think beyond the simple collection of data; in what ways can each of us contribute?As scientists themselves, the authors have a clear understanding of the need for reliable, rather than anecdotal, information about the ups and downs of citizen science projects. Both have been involved in such initiatives, from individual data collection to testing identification keys for practical use by the public. Many readers will be surprised at the breadth of citizen science and will discover the ability to undertake their own investigations. This book will be of great interest to anyone participating in or organising collaborative citizen science projects.

This book charts the historical development of citizen science, from its earliest days with amateur individuals working on their own, to the modern incarnation which often sees large numbers of people cooperating on environmental or health projects. It will help project designers understand the heritage of citizen science, including the best way to avoid previous mistakes, and how to ensure results that are both reliable and informative. It also encourages individuals to participate and to think beyond the simple collection of data; in what ways can each of us contribute?As scientists themselves, the authors have a clear understanding of the need for reliable, rather than anecdotal, information about the ups and downs of citizen science projects. Both have been involved in such initiatives, from individual data collection to testing identification keys for practical use by the public. Many readers will be surprised at the breadth of citizen science and will discover the ability to undertake their own investigations. This book will be of great interest to anyone participating in or organising collaborative citizen science projects.

First published in 2005. This second edition of Genetics DNA Technology retains the original's focus on professional lawyers. Not a law textbook, it is an adjunct to those who are studying law or want to become forensic scientists.

This book is uniquely about the relationship between the optical telescope and astronomy as they developed together. It covers the time between the telescope's pivotal invention in the 1600's up to the modern era of space-based telescopes.