This is the remarkable story about a plague of prickly-pear cactus plague that nearly crippled Australia during the first quarter of the 20th century. At its peak, the cactus invasion held within its spiny grip more than 60 million acres of choice farm and dairy land and was still spreading at a rate of over a million acres a year. Like some monster from outer space, roads, farms, and entire towns disappeared beneath its "octopus-like" growth. The author takes the reader back into time to hear first-hand accounts of what life was like in this "green Hell" and to explore the reasons why such a plague occurred. Readers will also learn how a group of mostly self-taught biologists were able to save that country by introducing a small brown moth, with the big name of Cactoblastis cactorum, from Argentina whose larvae are voracious cactus-eaters. Finally, there is a special section about gripping new developments concerning this small insect hero that now puts the ecology of the American deserts at serious risk and how a team of American scientists dedicated to reducing that risk are facing that challenge. Complete with 30 color photos, extensive notes and bibliography section, and index.

This is the gripping story of Australia's epic battle with the invasive prickly-pear cactus that occupied more than 60 million acres of farm and grazing land during the first third of the 20th century. At it peak, the "green menace" was spreading at a rate of over one million acres a year and driving thousands of homesteader off their properties. This is also the story about a team of mostly self-taught Australian entomologists who discovered that the caterpillar of a tiny moth they discovered in Argentina, with the big name of Cactoblastis cactorum, could destroy the pear outright. During a 5-year-long period, the prickly-pear was destroyed, revealing abandoned farms, roads, even entire villages. Following the clearing away of the pear, the land was then resettled. This nation's tiniest hero may now be poised to create a possible plague of its own in the United States and Mexico. This unique 392 page book contains a table of contents, 30 colour illustrations, a notes and bibliography section, plus an index. The author has spent over 5 and half years researching this subject.

Towering over deserts, arid scrublands, and dry tropical forests, giant cacti grow throughout the Americas, from the United States to Argentina—often in rough terrain and on barren, parched soils, places inhospitable to people. But as David Yetman shows, many of these tall plants have contributed significantly to human survival. Yetman has been fascinated by columnar cacti for most of his life and now brings years of study and reflection to a wide-ranging and handsomely illustrated book. Drawing on his close association with the Guarijíos, Mayos, and Seris of Mexico—peoples for whom such cacti have been indispensable to survival—he offers surprising evidence of the importance of these plants in human cultures. The Great Cacti reviews the more than one hundred species of columnar cacti, with detailed discussions of some 75 that have been the most beneficial to humans or are most spectacular. Focusing particularly on northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Yetman examines the role of each species in human society, describing how cacti have provided food, shelter, medicine, even religiously significant hallucinogens. Taking readers to the exotic sites where these cacti are found—from sea-level deserts to frigid Andean heights—Yetman shows that the great cacti have facilitated the development of native culture in hostile environments, yielding their products with no tending necessary. Enhanced by over 300 superb color photos, The Great Cacti is both a personal and scientific overview of sahuesos, soberbios, and other towering flora that flourish where few other plants grow—and that foster human life in otherwise impossible places.

America's first superheroes lived in the Midwest. There was Nanabozho, the Ojibway man-god who conquered the King of Fish, took control of the North Wind, and inspired Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha. Paul Bunyan, the larger-than-life North Woods lumberjack, created Minnesota's 10,000 lakes with his giant footsteps. More recently, Pittsburgh steelworker Joe Magerac squeezed out rails between his fingers, and Rosie the Riveter churned out the planes that won the world's most terrible war. In Folktales and Legends of the Middle West, Edward McClelland collects these stories and more. Readers will learn the sea shanties of the Great Lakes sailors and the spirituals of the slaves following the North Star across the Ohio River, and be frightened by tales of the Lake Erie Monster and Wisconsin's dangerous Hodag. A history of the region as told through its folklore, music, and legends, this is a book every Midwestern family should own.

· A newly updated, user-friendly guide to more than 300 varieties of cacti and succulents · Each plant profile details essential advice, plant characteristics and habitat, both scientific and common names, all new stunning photography, and more · Also includes informative sections on selecting and caring for plants, propagation, repotting, grooming, pest control, and other must-know tips · Newly expanded edition features double the amount of cacti and succulent species from the previous edition, up-to-date scientific names, new photography, and a new foreword and preface · Gideon F. Smith served as president for the International Organization of Succulent Plant Study and has published over 500 scientific and award-winning papers on the taxonomy, biology, and evolution of succulent plants

The march of civilization is attended by strange influences. Providence which directs the advancement of mankind, moves in such mysterious ways that none can sense its design or reason out its import. Frequently the forces of evil are turned to account in defeating their own objects. Great tragedies, cruel wars, cataclysms of woe, have acted as enlightening and refining agents. Out of the famines of the past came experiences which inculcated the thrift and fore-handedness of today. Out of man's sufferings have come knowledge and fortitude. Out of pain and tribulation, the attribute of sympathy—the first spiritual manifestation instrumental in elevating the human above the beast. Things worth while are never obtained without payment of some kind. Individual shocks stir the individual heart and conscience. Great world shocks are necessary to stir the world conscience and heart; to start those movements to right the wrongs in the world. So long as peace reigned commerce was uninterrupted, and the acquisition of wealth was not obstructed, men cared little for the intrigues and ambitions of royalty. If they sensed them at all, they lulled themselves into a feeling of security through the belief that progress had attained too far, civilization had secured too strong a hold, and democracy was too firmly rooted for any ordinary menace to be considered. So insidious and far reaching had become the inculcation of false philosophies summed up in the general term Kultur, that the subjects of the autocratic-ridden empires believed they were being guided by benign influences. Many enlightened men; at least it seems they must have been enlightened, in Germany and Austria—men who possessed liberated intellects and were not in the pay of the Kulturists—professed to believe that despotism in the modern world could not be other than benevolent. The satanic hand was concealed in the soft glove; the cloven hoof artistically fitted into the military boot; the tail carefully tucked inside the uniform or dress suit; fiendish eyes were taught to smile and gleam in sympathy and humor, or were masked behind the heavy lenses of professorial dignity; the serpent's hiss was trained to song, or drowned in crashing chords and given to the world as a sublime harmony. Suddenly the world awoke! The wooing harmony had changed to a blast of war; the conductor's baton had become a bayonet; the soft wind instrument barked the rifle's tone; its notes were bullets that hissed and screamed; tinkling cymbals sounded the wild blare of carnage, and sweet-throated horns of silver and brass bellowed the cannon's deadly roar.

The Greatest Works of Joseph Alexander Altsheler showcases a collection of the author's most significant writings, known for their vivid historical settings and action-packed narratives. Altsheler's literary style is characterized by detailed descriptions of military battles and patriotic themes, drawing readers into the bygone eras of American history. His works are reminiscent of classic adventure tales, appealing to enthusiasts of historical fiction. The compilation offers a glimpse into Altsheler's art of storytelling, highlighting his talent for crafting compelling and immersive narratives that captivate readers. Each story within the book provides a unique perspective on different periods of American history, making it an educational and entertaining read for those interested in the past. Altsheler's dedication to historical accuracy and his ability to bring the past to life through fiction are evident throughout the pages of this collection, demonstrating his lasting impact on the genre of historical fiction. Readers are sure to be engrossed by the thrilling adventures and richly detailed settings that make Altsheler's works enduring classics in American literature.

Operation KE explores the air combat that attended the Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal in early 1943 —a topic which has hitherto received very little attention. Operation KE was successful largely because Japanese strategic planning and tactical execution was basically sound. The traditional view holds that the Japanese got away with the initiative largely because the Americans let them; the US Pacific high command felt it was not worth the effort to try and stop them. Letourneau contends that this was not entirely the case. He argues that the Cactus Air Force and Guadalcanal-based naval units did their best to disrupt the evacuation, still believing that the Tokyo Express was bringing reinforcements and supplies to the 17th Army. Other US forces in the South Pacific did make a half-hearted and questionably-executed attempt to stop the Japanese, but were bluffed into adopting a ""wait-and-see"" posture. Operation KE focuses on the air war fought between the Cactus and US 13th Air Forces on the one hand and the Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces on the other, from mid-December, 1942 to mid-February, 1943. The book scrutinizes the US air strikes against the six KE-related Tokyo Express destroyer runs, plus related air strikes against the Japanese merchant marine, as well as air and naval base-suppression missions undertaken by both sides, to determine what actually happened in order to analyze why the Japanese evacuation succeeded and why Cactus failed to stop it. Background chapters attempt to assess the respective states of readiness of the Japanese and US air arms in the South Pacific to support on the one hand and counter on the other the execution of Operation KE. The central portion of the book narrates in some detail what actually occurred in the air and at sea -—including air strikes, fighter sweeps, base suppression missions, and naval sorties -—during the crucial prelude to and the actual playing out of the interrelated events that comprised the evacuation operation. Concluding chapters analyze, on both strategic and tactical levels, the Japanese planning and execution of Operation KE, and Cactus' initiatives to interdict KE's successful prosecution. The authors conclude that both the Japanese and the American states of readiness on the eve of Operation KE suffered in such matters as optimizing both resources and operating procedures, and combating a hostile environment. Consequently, both combatants were somewhat handicapped in their abilities respectively to carry out and contest Operation KE. The author contends that the Japanese developed a reasonably sound strategy that exploited those methods and tools of war then in use in the South Pacific; to achieve success, they maximized their own strengths while taking advantage of their adversary's limitations. Contrary to the traditional view, the authors are of the opinion that Japanese utilization of their newly-built airstrip at Munda in the Central Solomons played an important role in the success of Operation KE, which was in keeping with the long-range intention of developing Munda and Vila airstrips as major forward airbases to defend against any Allied push toward Rabaul through the Solomons. The U.S., on the other hand, by consistently misreading Japanese intent regarding Operation KE and pursuing a cautious offensive strategy, blunted the tactical impact of their initiatives to counter the evacuation. Several imprudent tactical decisions and a misallocation of resources further diluted the strength of US efforts."