home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
- Path: sparky!uunet!sun-barr!sh.wide!wnoc-tyo-news!nec-tyo!nec-gw!sgiblab!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!BINGVMB.BITNET!BB05196
- Message-ID: <HISTORY%92111813145446@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.history
- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 12:24:01 ECT
- Sender: History <HISTORY@PSUVM.BITNET>
- From: HARRIS <BB05196@BINGVMB.BITNET>
- Subject: Re: Causes of famine.
- In-Reply-To: Message of Wed,
- 18 Nov 1992 12:12:00 GMT from <ECNROBINSON@ORBSEN.UCG.IE>
- Lines: 15
-
- ON THE SUBJECT OF THE POTATO FAMINE IN EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH C
- I DO NOT HAVE MUCH INFORMATION, SAVE WHAT IT MEANT TO THE HISTORY OF U.S.
- IMMIGRATION. I DO KNOW A BIT ABOUT THE DUSTBOWL IN THE U.S. IN THE 1930S,
- HOWEVER, AND I SEE A DEGREE OF RESONANACE HERE. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, AND
- MANY OTHER OBSERVERS OF THE PERIOD WERE QUICK TO POINT TO GENERAL CLIMACTIC
- AND ENVIRONMENTAL ROOTS, BUT IGNORED THE ROLE PLAYED BY 20TH CENTURY FARMERS
- AND GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES.
- A SERIES OF SWAMPS, OCEANS, AND GLACIERS HAD SWEPT THROUGH THE AMERICAN
- SOUTHWEST OVER TIME, LEAVING A LEGACY OF CALICHE AND OTHER LOOSE SOILS TO THE
- REGION. BUT AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY ADVOCATED
- "DRY LAND FARMING," A SERIES OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE DUST MULCH AND THE SUMMER
- FALLOW, WHICH LEFT THE LAND VULNERABLE TO WIND EROSION. AND THE US GOVT FAILED
- TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WIND EROSION UNTIL THE DUSTBOWL HIT IN THE 1930S
- -- SEE PAUL BONNIFIELD _THE DUST BOWL_ 1979.
- HARRIS BB05196@BINGVMB
-