PLANTS, FOOD AND PEOPLE

Smoothly written and expertly organized, this is a thorough presentation of man's dependence on plant life. With many facts from pre-history and an investigation of implications for the future food supply of space travellers, the book is a well rounded history of agriculture. Focusing on pre-historic man's change from a hunter/gatherer existence to that of farmer/producer, Mrs. Hammond makes excellent use of recent archaeological discoveries and the stories told by the remains. The excavation of the most ancient site (a farming village in Iraq) is a highlight of the book. The history of plant cultivation from the dinosaur era onward, to today's automated farms is described in detail. A real contribution for this age level, it will be a valuable title on science and history bibliographies.