Crops and Man, 2nd Edition

Jack R. Harlan conceived the prevailing concepts of how the activities of human societies have shaped the evolution of crops used for food, feed, and fiber. Harlan collected and introduced over 12,000 accessions of plants into the United States. The world food supply now depends largely on only 12 to 15 plant species. Erosion of diverse gene sources from ancient landraces continues and more effective use needs to be made of germplasm collections in our gene banks. Booknews A broad view of the origins and early evolution of agriculture and domesticated plants grown for food, fiber, medicine, and other uses. The second edition (first in 1975) notes changing theories of diffusion, new discoveries from archaeology, the slowing of the disappearance of ancient plants, and the enormous holdings now in seed banks. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The book contains the following chapters: (1) prologue: the golden age; (2) views on agricultural origins; (3) what is a crop?; (4) what is a weed?; (5) classification of cultivated plants; (6) the dynamics of domestication; (7) space, time and variation; (8) the Near East; (9) indigenous African agriculture; (10) the Far East; (11) the Americas; and (12) epilogue: who's in charge here?