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Forests: A Naturalist's Guide to Trees and Forest Ecology
This compilation offers readers an exciting and interactive hands-on approach to learning about our nation's forests. A timely addition to the highly successful Wiley Nature Editions series, it contains projects for the amateur naturalist that require no special tools or equipment. Separating fact from popular misconceptions, the guide provides a realistic look at the long-term future of forests and surrounding habitats, with discussion of the principle threats to their survival and their ability to adapt.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 31, 2024
“Good news, everyone!”, professor Farnsworth, erm, Walker has put together a scientific compilation of North American (almost exclusively USA though) forests. It is divided pretty much 50/50 between conifers to broadleaf trees.
Dr. Walker is a retired professor of forestry and his scientific knowledge is 1st rate. Here he is on p. 63 describing the scrub pine forests of Florida:
“Geologists figure the unconsolidated sands of poor water holding capacity in the Big Scrub were moved from the Appalachian Mountains during the Pleistocene period, transported to the Florida peninsula by offshore currents, and washed and sorted there. The soil, a term remotely applicable, is also low in plant nutrients.”
I had no idea that the sandy soil so common in Florida is the remnant of Appalachia, but thought provoking indeed! Professor Walker also has an interesting sense of humor. Here he is talking about a southeast Asian variety of trees known as “Dipterocarps”:
“...dipterocarps are the species of preference for international commerce. North Americans know them as the veneer of hollow-coreflush doors, those interior doors without panels that, because of their low cost and attractiveness, grace the houses of commoners.”
Ouch. Commoner here. I know what doors he is speaking of. Finally, here is another example in Chapter 28 on “The Stink-Bomb Tree”, aka, the ginkgo;
“Ghetto kids in the city of Washington know well the Ginkgo tree by another name. The stink-bombs produced in the fall of the year, to be squashed underfoot on the concrete walks, give off a sickening smell like that of rancid butter. So tenacious is the foul odor that only diligent washing of hands and clothes eradicates the aroma. In your author’s boyhood, every new resident under the age of ten, unless brawnier than the citizens of longer tenure, was obliged to consume a plum. No way could a kid retain the mushy, putrid fruit high in butyric acid.”
Despite the occasional digression, the book is not patronizing and often highly technical. Perhaps more geared to commercial forestry than I would normally like, but not bad either. 4 stars.
Dr. Walker is a retired professor of forestry and his scientific knowledge is 1st rate. Here he is on p. 63 describing the scrub pine forests of Florida:
“Geologists figure the unconsolidated sands of poor water holding capacity in the Big Scrub were moved from the Appalachian Mountains during the Pleistocene period, transported to the Florida peninsula by offshore currents, and washed and sorted there. The soil, a term remotely applicable, is also low in plant nutrients.”
I had no idea that the sandy soil so common in Florida is the remnant of Appalachia, but thought provoking indeed! Professor Walker also has an interesting sense of humor. Here he is talking about a southeast Asian variety of trees known as “Dipterocarps”:
“...dipterocarps are the species of preference for international commerce. North Americans know them as the veneer of hollow-coreflush doors, those interior doors without panels that, because of their low cost and attractiveness, grace the houses of commoners.”
Ouch. Commoner here. I know what doors he is speaking of. Finally, here is another example in Chapter 28 on “The Stink-Bomb Tree”, aka, the ginkgo;
“Ghetto kids in the city of Washington know well the Ginkgo tree by another name. The stink-bombs produced in the fall of the year, to be squashed underfoot on the concrete walks, give off a sickening smell like that of rancid butter. So tenacious is the foul odor that only diligent washing of hands and clothes eradicates the aroma. In your author’s boyhood, every new resident under the age of ten, unless brawnier than the citizens of longer tenure, was obliged to consume a plum. No way could a kid retain the mushy, putrid fruit high in butyric acid.”
Despite the occasional digression, the book is not patronizing and often highly technical. Perhaps more geared to commercial forestry than I would normally like, but not bad either. 4 stars.
December 22, 2024
This book was surprisingly easy to read. Walker takes a one-at-a- time survey of the most common species of North American trees. In spite of the large amount of data contained on the book, it maintains an easy readability that makes you want to like the woods. Forest ecology is vast, and fascinating. I read this book quickly, but it Made me want to go on many forest walks.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews