The Living Soil: evidence of the importance to human health of soil vitality, with special reference to national planning, by E. B. Balfour (Lady Eve Balfour, 1898-1990), British farmer, educator, organic farming pioneer, and a founding figure in the organic movement. This title was first published in 1943 in Great Britain by Faber and Faber- this 1948 edition was published by The Devin-Adair Company in New York (printed in Great Britain), and it represents an updated and revised version of its original 1943 publication. Hardcover binding with brown cloth-covered boards and gold lettering on the spine, 270 numbered pages. Contains 14 illustration plates throughout, and 9 "Figures". The book measures approximately 8 3/4" by 5 3/4" by 3/4" thick.
I consider this book to be in
good overall vintage pre-owned and collectible condition with the following noted flaws:
The book is missing its original dust jacket; the cloth covered boards show mild staining, fading and corner/edge rubbing- slight fray at the tips of the corners; age-toning to the pages and discoloration on the endpapers (appears to be related to the paste used to secure to the boards); the front and rear end papers are beginning to detach from the remaining bound pages at the bottoms of the endpapers; there is at least one small highlighted area of text and two small pencil notations along the page-numbering column of the "Illustrations" page in the front of the book.
This is a scarce edition of an important and influencial classic in organic agriculture, the organic movement, soil science and biology. It is based on the findings of the "Hauley Experiment", documenting different types of farming techniques by executing a side-by-side trial of organic and chemical-based farming.
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