American Fruit Trees, Nut Trees, Berry Plants, Grapevines, And Native Plants Promoted By Thomas Jefferson
by Pat Malcolm
Thomas Jefferson was the United States minister to France following the great American, Benjamin Franklin in 1785. While acting as the French minister to the United States, Jefferson surveyed crops of agriculture in France searching for fruit trees, nut trees, grape vines, berry plants, and many other potentially useful crops that might be commercially grown in the United States. Many of these seed plants and trees were exported to the American colonists and planters for experimental growing on United States farms and plantations. In exchange to the French, many native plants of the United States were exported to France and Europe for testing. Plants and trees such as red, and black raspberries, scuppernong grapevines, muscadine grape vines, pecan tree seed, Citrus seed, and plants such as mutated cultivars of orange, lime, grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, and tangerine, that centuries before had been introduced by the Spanish colonists into Florida from Europe and Africa. Grains such as corn and the famous American tobacco products were also favorite imports to Europe. The Indian Blood peach tree produced exceptional fruit, even from planted seed, and American grapevines, wild plum and cherry trees were used as root stock for grafting fruit trees and grapevines. Mulberry trees, pawpaw trees, and strawberry plants were also exciting new plant introductions into Europe. American native nut trees such as the American chestnut, Castanea dentata, and the Chinquapin nut, Castanea pumila, as well as many species of Hickory trees, Pecan trees (Carya illinoinenis), several species of walnut trees including Juglans nigra, and the American filbert, Corylus americana (Hazlenut) were all received for commercial agricultural testing in European countries.
Thomas Jefferson made a note on his plant interests to the State of Virginia in the year 1787 #VI, "A notice of the mines and other subterranean riches, its trees, plants, fruits, etc." with his interests in "the orchards produce apples, pears, cherries, quinces, peaches, nectarines, apricots, almonds, and plumbs." Thomas Jefferson was also a learned botanist who could intelligently discuss the fruit trees, berry plants, grapevines, and nut trees in the Latinzed, scientific language with the agricultural elite authorities of his time. In his writing to the state of Virginia, he wrote: "Scarlet strawberries, Fragaria Virginiana of Millar; Whortleberries, Vaccinium uliginosum; Wild gooseberies, Ribes grossularia; Cranberries, Vaccinium oxycoccus; Black raspberries, Rubus occidentalis; Blackberries, Rubus fruticosus; Dewberries, Rubus caesius; Cloud-berries, Rubus chamaemorus."
About native wild and escaped plants, trees, and vines, Jefferson reported on wild fruits like Elderberry, Elder, Sambucus nigra; Papaw, Annona triloba" and the mulberry, proper for its food, grows kindly, pomegranates and figs. Wild cherry, Prunus Virginiana, Cherokee plumb, Punus sylvestris fructu majori, Wild plumb, Prunus sylvestris fructu minori, Clayton, Wild crab-apple, Pyrus coronaria; red mulberry, Morus rubra; Persimmon, Diospyros Virginiana.
Thomas Jefferson had a great interest in timber trees from which lumber was made into dwellings, furniture, tools, fuel, etc. He reported: "Black birch, Betula nigra; White birch, Betula alba; Beach, Fagus sylvatica; Ash, Fraxinus Americana; Fraxinus Novae Angliae, Millar; Elm, Ulmus Americana, Willow, Salix Query species?; Sweet Gum, Liquidamber styaciflua. Plane-tree, Platanus cooidentalis; Poplar liriodendron tulipifera; Populus heterophylla; Black poplar, Populus nigra; Aspen, Populus tremulus; Linden or lime, Tilia Americana; Red flowering maple, Acer rubrum; Horse-chestnut, or Buck's-eye, Aesculus pavia; Catalpa, Bignonia catalpa; Umbrella, Magnolia tripetala; Swamp laurel, Magnolia glauca; Cucumber-tree, Magnolia acuminata; Portugal bay, Laurus indica; Red Bay, Laurus borbonia; Dwarf-rose bay, Rhododendron maxiumum; Laurel of the Western country, Qu. species?"
A group of smaller trees reported by Jefferson was "Holly, Ilex aquifolium, Cockspur hawthorn, Crataegus coccinea; Spindle-tree, Euronymus Europaeus; Evergreen spindle tree, Euonymus Americanus; Candleberry myrtle, Myrica cerifera."
Oak trees were valuable to the early colonists for use in building houses, furniture, tools and fuels, Jefferson listed these as: "Black Oak, Quercus nigra; White Oak, Quercus alba; Red oak, Quercus rubra; Willow Oak, Quercus phellos; Chestnut Oak, Quercus prinus; Black jack Oak, Quercus aquatica, Clayton, Query?; Ground Oak, Quercus pumila, Clayton; Live Oak, Quercus Virginiana, Millar;
Many flowering trees were planted in Thomas Jefferson's garden estate at Monticello, such as Dogwood trees, Grancy Greybeard, Redbud tree and Locust trees listed as: "Wild pimento, Laurus benzoin; Sassafras, Laurus sassafras; Locust, Robinia pseudo-acacia; Honey-locust, Gleiditsia la; Dogwood, Cornus florida; Fringe or snowdrop tree, Chionanthus virginica; Redbud, or Judas-tree, Cercis, canadensis."
The importance of evergreens was obvious to Thomas Jefferson, and he listed them as: "Black or pitch-pine, Pinus taeda; White pine, Pinus strobus; Yellow pine, Pinus Virgincia; Spruce pine, Pinus foliis singularibus, Clayton; Hemlock spruce fir, Pinus Canadensis; Aborvitae , Thuya occidentalis; Juniper, Juniperus virginica (called cedar with us) Cypress Cupressus disticha; White cedar, Cupressus Thyoides."
Jefferson reported that many cash agricultural crops of America were of native or mysterious origin that included: "Tobacco, Nicotiana; Maize, Zea Mays; Round potatoes, Solanum tuberosum; Pumpkins, (Squash) Cucurbita pepo; Cymlings, Cucurbita verrucosa; Squashes, Cucurbita melopepo"
Besides the production of crops from native plants, Jefferson wrote that American farms produced: "wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, broom corn, and Indian corn, rice, tobacco, hemp, flax, cotton and indigo."
Long and the round potatoes, "turnips, carrots, parsneps, pumpkins, ground nuts." Ground nuts were today's peanut, Arachis hypogaea.
Thomas Jefferson listed many grasses and grains in his report to include: "Lucerne, St. Foin, Burnet, Timothy, ray and orchard grass, red, white and yellow clover, greenswerd, blue grass, and crab grass, Panic, Panicum of many species; Indian millet, Holcus laxus; Holcus striosus; Wild oat, Zizania aquatica; Wild pea, Dolichas of Clayton; Lupine, Lupinus perennis; Wild hop, Humulus lupulus."
Thomas Jefferson reported that American gardens were producing in the year 1787; "Musk melons, water melons, tomatas, okra, pomegranates, figs, and the esculent plants of Europe, Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus; Long potatoes, Convolvulas batatas;"
Various ornamental plants such as flowering Sweetshrub, Poke Weed Salad, Passion Flower, Jerusalem Artichoke and Tuckshoe were: "Upright honeysuckle, Azalea nudiflora; Calycanthus floridus; American aloe, Agave Virginica; Sumach Rhus, Qu species?; Poke, Phytolacca decandra; Itea Virginica; Granadillas, Maycocks, Maracocks, Passiflora incarnata; Tuchahoe, Lycoperdon tuber."
Thomas Jefferson reported useful vines: "Ivy, Hedera quinquefolia, Trumpet honeysuckle, Yellow jasmine, Bignonia sempervirens." and the seemingly insignificant "Long Moss, Tillandsia Usneoides"
Medicinal herbs such as Datura, Marshmallow, Ginseng and Jimson Weed were reported along with: "Senna, Cassia Ligustrina; Arsmart, Polygonum Sagittatum; Clivers, or goose-grass, Galium spurium; Lobelia of several species; Palma Christi, Ricinus; James-town weed, Datura Stramonium; Mallow, Mallow rotundifolia; Syrian mallow, Hibiscus moschentos; Hibiscus virginicus; Indian mallow, Sida rhombifolia; Sida abutilon; Virginia Marshmallow, Napaea hermaphrodita; Napaea dioica; Indian physic, Spiraea trifoliata; Euphoria Ipecacuanhae; Pleurisy root, Asclepias decumbens, Virginia snake-root, Aristolochia serpentaria, Black snake-root, Actaea racemosa; Seneca rattlesnake-root, Polygala Senega; Valerian, Valeriana locusta radiata; Gentiana Saponaria, Villosa and Centaurium; Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium; Angelica, Angelica sylvestris; Casava, Jatropha urens."
Thomas Jefferson was an amazing man with a genius and intelligence that helped to make the United States a great nation, not only because of his political contribution as a formulator of the United States Constitution, as a great United States minister to France and the third President of the United States, but Jefferson also was an accomplished writer and farmer.
About the Author
Visit TyTy Nursery to purchase the trees mentioned in this article, or many others that you may be looking for!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
American Fruit Trees, Nut Trees, Berry Plants, Grapevines, And Native Plants Promoted By Thomas Jefferson
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Choose Dark Chocolate For Heart Health
Choose Dark Chocolate For Heart Health
by Martin Applebaum
Have you heard of the saying - 'A dark chocolate a day keeps the doctor away?' if not, you need to gain a lot of knowledge about dark chocolate. Take a dark chocolate daily is good for the heart as these chocolates are fully loaded with many flavaniods. All you require to do to keep your heart in a healthy state is to eat a small 1.6-ounce bar of dark chocolate for heart health each day. Mary Engler of the University of California, San Francisco, has done the research.
Remember that not every chocolate is created equal. You must know that any standard manufacturing process for chocolate tends to destroy more than half of the flavaniods. However, fortunately, most companies have now learned the art of preparing dark chocolate that would preserve up to 95 per cent of its flavaniods. This is no scam. It is 100% true that you can benefit a lot by eating chocolate now.
This does not mean that you overload yourself with chocolate. Remember that chocolate tends to possess many calories and you definitely need to cut down on somewhere else if you are having a lot of dark chocolate.
There are several benefits of eating dark chocolate. Here are some of these benefits:
* Lowers blood pressure: One of the main benefits of eating dark chocolate is that it tends to lower your blood pressure if it is too high. This has been proved as confirmed by a report by Dirk Jaubert, MD, phd at the University of Cologne in Germany. The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, make sure this report does not give you a reason to binge on, as these are many calories in chocolate.
* Presence of antioxidants: When dark chocolate is taken in sufficient quantity, it proves to be a strong antioxidant to the body. This is proved by a report produced by Mauro Serafini, Phd and colleagues of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome. The issue of Nature published this report. Antioxidants are powerful enough to eat up many free radials, hazardous molecules implicated in heart disease or other health conditions. Remember that in order to benefit from antioxidants you need to eat dark chocolate without milk. People who have dark chocolate daily have higher levels of epicatechin. It is a real healthy compound found commonly in dark chocolate.
* Good heart: As discussed earlier, dark chocolate is rich in flavaniods. This compound's healthy for the heart. It has also other healthy compounds that help in keeping the heart of individuals who eat dark chocolate in a healthy state.
With so many benefits of dark chocolate, there is no reason that you should stay away from it. All you require to do is to remember that a healthy diet balance is what keeps the heart fit and fine. Binging in will never help you achieve the desired goals. Choose dark chocolate for heart health.
About the Author
Making chocolate has been around for hundreds of years. Dark chocolate for heart health is not very well known. Our site provides information on the benefits of chocolate to your health. Visit our site today for more information. http://www.mymakingchocolatesite.com/
By M. Applebaum
by Martin Applebaum
Have you heard of the saying - 'A dark chocolate a day keeps the doctor away?' if not, you need to gain a lot of knowledge about dark chocolate. Take a dark chocolate daily is good for the heart as these chocolates are fully loaded with many flavaniods. All you require to do to keep your heart in a healthy state is to eat a small 1.6-ounce bar of dark chocolate for heart health each day. Mary Engler of the University of California, San Francisco, has done the research.
Remember that not every chocolate is created equal. You must know that any standard manufacturing process for chocolate tends to destroy more than half of the flavaniods. However, fortunately, most companies have now learned the art of preparing dark chocolate that would preserve up to 95 per cent of its flavaniods. This is no scam. It is 100% true that you can benefit a lot by eating chocolate now.
This does not mean that you overload yourself with chocolate. Remember that chocolate tends to possess many calories and you definitely need to cut down on somewhere else if you are having a lot of dark chocolate.
There are several benefits of eating dark chocolate. Here are some of these benefits:
* Lowers blood pressure: One of the main benefits of eating dark chocolate is that it tends to lower your blood pressure if it is too high. This has been proved as confirmed by a report by Dirk Jaubert, MD, phd at the University of Cologne in Germany. The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, make sure this report does not give you a reason to binge on, as these are many calories in chocolate.
* Presence of antioxidants: When dark chocolate is taken in sufficient quantity, it proves to be a strong antioxidant to the body. This is proved by a report produced by Mauro Serafini, Phd and colleagues of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome. The issue of Nature published this report. Antioxidants are powerful enough to eat up many free radials, hazardous molecules implicated in heart disease or other health conditions. Remember that in order to benefit from antioxidants you need to eat dark chocolate without milk. People who have dark chocolate daily have higher levels of epicatechin. It is a real healthy compound found commonly in dark chocolate.
* Good heart: As discussed earlier, dark chocolate is rich in flavaniods. This compound's healthy for the heart. It has also other healthy compounds that help in keeping the heart of individuals who eat dark chocolate in a healthy state.
With so many benefits of dark chocolate, there is no reason that you should stay away from it. All you require to do is to remember that a healthy diet balance is what keeps the heart fit and fine. Binging in will never help you achieve the desired goals. Choose dark chocolate for heart health.
About the Author
Making chocolate has been around for hundreds of years. Dark chocolate for heart health is not very well known. Our site provides information on the benefits of chocolate to your health. Visit our site today for more information. http://www.mymakingchocolatesite.com/
By M. Applebaum
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Cake Decorating Ideas for Fantastic Looking Cakes
Cake Decorating Ideas for Fantastic Looking Cakes
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Cristy_Smith]Cristy Smith
You don't have to be an expert cake decorator in order to make fantastic looking birthday cakes. Here are some cake decorating ideas to help you to make your cakes extra special that do not require exceptional cake decorating skills.
First, determine a theme for your cake. If the cake is for an adult, what are the likes, hobbies or interests of the birthday person? For example, if the person likes to fish, make a fishing theme cake. If the person likes to golf, make a golf theme cake. If they like to play the guitar, make a guitar cake.
You could also make the cake theme match their profession as well. For example, for a mail carrier make a mail theme cake or for a carpenter, make a carpenter theme cake.
If you are making a cake for a child, have it match the theme of the party or the child's favorite character, interest or even sport.
You get the idea, just try to make the cake extra special for the birthday person by making it match their hobbies or interests.
A really easy cake decorating idea for making these theme cakes is to purchase cake toppers that match your theme to place on top of your cake. These come in many different varieties. However, if you happen to want to make a certain theme cake for which you cannot find a cake topper to match, try the miniature section of any hobby or craft store.
For the examples above, you can purchase things such as a miniature fishing rod and net for the fishing cake, a miniature golf bag and golf clubs for the golf theme cake and a miniature guitar for the guitar cake. You can then place them on top of your cake. For a mail theme cake, purchase miniature mail boxes and make little letters out of card stock that you laminate and place them on the top and sides of your cake. For the carpenter theme cake, put miniature saws and other tools on the top of or on the sides of the cake.
These are just a few examples. The ideas really are endless, but hopefully this has helped to get you started thinking of different and unique cake decorating ideas that will make the next cake that you make extra special.
Cristy Smith is co-creator of a birthday cake decorating website that is packed full of creative and fantastic looking cakes and explains how each one was made. Visit http://www.easy-birthday-cakes.com for lots of great [http://www.easy-birthday-cakes.com/cake-decorating-ideas.html ]cake decorating ideas that adults and children will love.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cristy_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Cake-Decorating-Ideas-for-Fantastic-Looking-Cakes&id=170485
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Cristy_Smith]Cristy Smith
You don't have to be an expert cake decorator in order to make fantastic looking birthday cakes. Here are some cake decorating ideas to help you to make your cakes extra special that do not require exceptional cake decorating skills.
First, determine a theme for your cake. If the cake is for an adult, what are the likes, hobbies or interests of the birthday person? For example, if the person likes to fish, make a fishing theme cake. If the person likes to golf, make a golf theme cake. If they like to play the guitar, make a guitar cake.
You could also make the cake theme match their profession as well. For example, for a mail carrier make a mail theme cake or for a carpenter, make a carpenter theme cake.
If you are making a cake for a child, have it match the theme of the party or the child's favorite character, interest or even sport.
You get the idea, just try to make the cake extra special for the birthday person by making it match their hobbies or interests.
A really easy cake decorating idea for making these theme cakes is to purchase cake toppers that match your theme to place on top of your cake. These come in many different varieties. However, if you happen to want to make a certain theme cake for which you cannot find a cake topper to match, try the miniature section of any hobby or craft store.
For the examples above, you can purchase things such as a miniature fishing rod and net for the fishing cake, a miniature golf bag and golf clubs for the golf theme cake and a miniature guitar for the guitar cake. You can then place them on top of your cake. For a mail theme cake, purchase miniature mail boxes and make little letters out of card stock that you laminate and place them on the top and sides of your cake. For the carpenter theme cake, put miniature saws and other tools on the top of or on the sides of the cake.
These are just a few examples. The ideas really are endless, but hopefully this has helped to get you started thinking of different and unique cake decorating ideas that will make the next cake that you make extra special.
Cristy Smith is co-creator of a birthday cake decorating website that is packed full of creative and fantastic looking cakes and explains how each one was made. Visit http://www.easy-birthday-cakes.com for lots of great [http://www.easy-birthday-cakes.com/cake-decorating-ideas.html ]cake decorating ideas that adults and children will love.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cristy_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Cake-Decorating-Ideas-for-Fantastic-Looking-Cakes&id=170485
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Baking Cookies
Baking Cookies
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause]Ann Krause
So you’re thinking of baking cookies on your own but don’t know where to start, well you have come to the right place, I can tell you what to do.
First you will need the proper tools, a five quart mixes, or even a four quart mixer will do, a small ice-cream scoop, measuring spoons, bowl scraper, a good rolling pin, some table spoons, baking sheets, parchment paper, which you can purchase at a local grocery store in the baking section, and of course a good recipe.
When preparing to make your cookies read and understand your recipe, make sure your eggs are at room temperature, weigh and measure all your ingredients before you start, baking cookies is as easy as you make it or as hard as you make it, once you get the general idea of baking cookies you will love it.
Make sure that your oven is preheated to the proper temperature, some people think that you can start baking in a cold oven or an oven just as they turned it on, well it won’t work. Prepare your cookie dough according to your recipe, roll out your cookie dough then cut into shapes and place on cookie pans with parchment papers, or they may be drop cookies, in this case drop your cookies on the pans far enough apart so they have room enough to bake.
Decorating your cookies before or after baking is important for eye appeal, the better they look the better they will taste. You can decorate your cookies with colored sugar, colored jimmies, colored icings and so on, whatever you decide to do, do it well, baking cookies is an art.
Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com
NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause http://EzineArticles.com/?Baking-Cookies&id=269559
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause]Ann Krause
So you’re thinking of baking cookies on your own but don’t know where to start, well you have come to the right place, I can tell you what to do.
First you will need the proper tools, a five quart mixes, or even a four quart mixer will do, a small ice-cream scoop, measuring spoons, bowl scraper, a good rolling pin, some table spoons, baking sheets, parchment paper, which you can purchase at a local grocery store in the baking section, and of course a good recipe.
When preparing to make your cookies read and understand your recipe, make sure your eggs are at room temperature, weigh and measure all your ingredients before you start, baking cookies is as easy as you make it or as hard as you make it, once you get the general idea of baking cookies you will love it.
Make sure that your oven is preheated to the proper temperature, some people think that you can start baking in a cold oven or an oven just as they turned it on, well it won’t work. Prepare your cookie dough according to your recipe, roll out your cookie dough then cut into shapes and place on cookie pans with parchment papers, or they may be drop cookies, in this case drop your cookies on the pans far enough apart so they have room enough to bake.
Decorating your cookies before or after baking is important for eye appeal, the better they look the better they will taste. You can decorate your cookies with colored sugar, colored jimmies, colored icings and so on, whatever you decide to do, do it well, baking cookies is an art.
Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com
NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause http://EzineArticles.com/?Baking-Cookies&id=269559
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Rainforest Plants - Brazil Nut
Rainforest Plants - Brazil Nut
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tony_Mandarich]Tony Mandarich
Family: Lecythidaceae
Genus: Bertholletia
Species: excelsa
Common names: brazil nut, castania, castanheiro do para, para-nut, creamnut
General Description: The Brazil nut tree is a tall rainforest canopy tree. It is the only species in the genus Bertholletia. This tree grows primarily in forests with full canopies; it is enormous, reaching heights of 150 feet or more.
The Brazil nut tree is one of many similar species that illustrate the amazing ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest, in which plants and animals depend upon each other for survival. Specifically, this tree requires the carpenter bee for pollination of its flowers. It also depends on the agouti (a rodent living in Central America) for dispersing its seeds. This rodent has sharp teeth and strong jaws, cracks the nuts open and then carries them throughout the rainforest floor.
Brazil nut trees grow very slowly, taking as long as 10 to 30 years before producing nuts, and sometimes producing as many as 300 fruits when mature. The fruits of the Brazil nut trees are handpicked as they fall to the ground beginning in November of each year.
Location: The tree is called castanheiro do para in Brazil and is found throughout the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Uses: The Amazon depends on the Brazil nut tree for a healthy economy. Exporting Brazil nuts began with Dutch traders in the 1600s. Exportation from the Amazon rainforest is one of the most important sources of revenue for the region. The monetary value is second only to that of rubber. In addition, Brazil nut oil is an ingredient in skin creams because of its high selenium content (antioxidant benefits) and it ability to lubricate and hydrate the skin. Brazil nut tree bark is also used in an [http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/]herbal tea that may help in treatment of some liver problems.
The primary concern is the future of this important rainforest tree. If uncontrolled extraction and exportation of the Brazil nut continues, survival of both the agouti and of the Brazil nut tree itself will be threatened.
Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. [http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/Plant_linkspage.html]Tony Mandarich
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Mandarich http://EzineArticles.com/?Rainforest-Plants---Brazil-Nut&id=988603
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tony_Mandarich]Tony Mandarich
Family: Lecythidaceae
Genus: Bertholletia
Species: excelsa
Common names: brazil nut, castania, castanheiro do para, para-nut, creamnut
General Description: The Brazil nut tree is a tall rainforest canopy tree. It is the only species in the genus Bertholletia. This tree grows primarily in forests with full canopies; it is enormous, reaching heights of 150 feet or more.
The Brazil nut tree is one of many similar species that illustrate the amazing ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest, in which plants and animals depend upon each other for survival. Specifically, this tree requires the carpenter bee for pollination of its flowers. It also depends on the agouti (a rodent living in Central America) for dispersing its seeds. This rodent has sharp teeth and strong jaws, cracks the nuts open and then carries them throughout the rainforest floor.
Brazil nut trees grow very slowly, taking as long as 10 to 30 years before producing nuts, and sometimes producing as many as 300 fruits when mature. The fruits of the Brazil nut trees are handpicked as they fall to the ground beginning in November of each year.
Location: The tree is called castanheiro do para in Brazil and is found throughout the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Uses: The Amazon depends on the Brazil nut tree for a healthy economy. Exporting Brazil nuts began with Dutch traders in the 1600s. Exportation from the Amazon rainforest is one of the most important sources of revenue for the region. The monetary value is second only to that of rubber. In addition, Brazil nut oil is an ingredient in skin creams because of its high selenium content (antioxidant benefits) and it ability to lubricate and hydrate the skin. Brazil nut tree bark is also used in an [http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/]herbal tea that may help in treatment of some liver problems.
The primary concern is the future of this important rainforest tree. If uncontrolled extraction and exportation of the Brazil nut continues, survival of both the agouti and of the Brazil nut tree itself will be threatened.
Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. [http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/Plant_linkspage.html]Tony Mandarich
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Mandarich http://EzineArticles.com/?Rainforest-Plants---Brazil-Nut&id=988603
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Breathtakingly Beautiful Celebration Cakes
Breathtakingly Beautiful Celebration Cakes
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hudson]Daniel Hudson
Celebration and desserts go hand in hand. And celebration cakes add more fun to any kind of jubilation. They pump in a lot of cheer and the happiness gets doubled. Imagine the moment when, amidst all the fun and frolic, dance and music, chit chat and guffaws, the tray where the cakes sit atop is dragged inside the hall where people are gathered. Some actually welcome celebration cakes with applause.
Human creativity and imagination has given celebration cakes a new look and appearance. These days, most people demand for attractive looking cakes and bakeries provide designer cakes. What are designer cakes? Basically, they are cakes that not only taste great but also look great. They are decorated in a way that they look beautiful and different from traditional cakes. The icing is done in different colours and patterns, which is different from the everyday, ordinary looking ones.
With Christmas and New Year just round the corner, now you would get a wide variety of designer celebration cakes. They include cakes that have Santa Claus and Reindeer rushing past the snowy lands; cakes that depict the birth of Lord Jesus; cakes that have mistletoes and candies; cakes where you can see stars and snowmen. Basically, there is a wide variety of cakes with the festival theme. You can also order cakes with designs recommended by you. You can choose to celebrate your Christmas in style with these beautifully decorated cakes.
It is very easy to order cakes. Now you don't have to pay several visits to your local bakery or cake shop. You can order for celebration cakes right from your home through the Internet. You can go to a good online cake shop and select one from their collection. Some cake shops also give you option to suggest your own design. You can check that out too.
Mr. Daniel is an expert author on cakes, by virtue of his extensive knowledge and meticulous research, he produces informative articles on cakes. The article given here covers the arena of [http://www.designer-cakes.com/]celebration cakes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hudson http://EzineArticles.com/?Breathtakingly-Beautiful-Celebration-Cakes&id=843942
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hudson]Daniel Hudson
Celebration and desserts go hand in hand. And celebration cakes add more fun to any kind of jubilation. They pump in a lot of cheer and the happiness gets doubled. Imagine the moment when, amidst all the fun and frolic, dance and music, chit chat and guffaws, the tray where the cakes sit atop is dragged inside the hall where people are gathered. Some actually welcome celebration cakes with applause.
Human creativity and imagination has given celebration cakes a new look and appearance. These days, most people demand for attractive looking cakes and bakeries provide designer cakes. What are designer cakes? Basically, they are cakes that not only taste great but also look great. They are decorated in a way that they look beautiful and different from traditional cakes. The icing is done in different colours and patterns, which is different from the everyday, ordinary looking ones.
With Christmas and New Year just round the corner, now you would get a wide variety of designer celebration cakes. They include cakes that have Santa Claus and Reindeer rushing past the snowy lands; cakes that depict the birth of Lord Jesus; cakes that have mistletoes and candies; cakes where you can see stars and snowmen. Basically, there is a wide variety of cakes with the festival theme. You can also order cakes with designs recommended by you. You can choose to celebrate your Christmas in style with these beautifully decorated cakes.
It is very easy to order cakes. Now you don't have to pay several visits to your local bakery or cake shop. You can order for celebration cakes right from your home through the Internet. You can go to a good online cake shop and select one from their collection. Some cake shops also give you option to suggest your own design. You can check that out too.
Mr. Daniel is an expert author on cakes, by virtue of his extensive knowledge and meticulous research, he produces informative articles on cakes. The article given here covers the arena of [http://www.designer-cakes.com/]celebration cakes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hudson http://EzineArticles.com/?Breathtakingly-Beautiful-Celebration-Cakes&id=843942
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cookies - Sweet Temptations
Cookies - Sweet Temptations
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause]Ann Krause
Can we call cookies sweet temptations, you bet we can because they are, did you ever know anyone to turn down the offer of some cookies especially with a cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk.
You see sites on the web trying to lure you in with pictures of cookies and some seem to be steaming as they come from the oven, it’s too bad that they don’t have smell on the net.
Then you have your good old fashion cookie bakeries that you can smell from a block away so how can you possibly get lost getting there. I can also remember when I was a child and as my children would say back in the good old days waking up in the mornings before a holiday with the smells of fresh cookies in the oven permeating the entire house with the wonderful sweet smells that passers by on the street could probably smell as well.
I can also remember when we went visiting during holidays all the different types of cookies and the size of the cookie dishes that were laid out in front of you so you could eat your fill, everything was so delicious so yes I think we can call cookies sweet temptations.
Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com
NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause http://EzineArticles.com/?Cookies---Sweet-Temptations&id=259711
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause]Ann Krause
Can we call cookies sweet temptations, you bet we can because they are, did you ever know anyone to turn down the offer of some cookies especially with a cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk.
You see sites on the web trying to lure you in with pictures of cookies and some seem to be steaming as they come from the oven, it’s too bad that they don’t have smell on the net.
Then you have your good old fashion cookie bakeries that you can smell from a block away so how can you possibly get lost getting there. I can also remember when I was a child and as my children would say back in the good old days waking up in the mornings before a holiday with the smells of fresh cookies in the oven permeating the entire house with the wonderful sweet smells that passers by on the street could probably smell as well.
I can also remember when we went visiting during holidays all the different types of cookies and the size of the cookie dishes that were laid out in front of you so you could eat your fill, everything was so delicious so yes I think we can call cookies sweet temptations.
Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com
NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Krause http://EzineArticles.com/?Cookies---Sweet-Temptations&id=259711
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