Chicle

Chicle is a history in four acts, all of them focused on the sticky white substance that seeps from the sapodilla tree when its bark is cut. First, Jennifer Mathews recounts the story of chicle and its earliest-known adherents, the Maya and Aztecs. Second, with the assistance of botanist Gillian Schultz, Mathews examines the sapodilla tree itself, an extraordinarily hardy plant that is native only to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. Third, Mathews presents the fascinating story of the chicle and chewing gum industry over the last hundred plus years, a tale (like so many twentieth-century tales) of greed, growth, and collapse. In closing, Mathews considers the plight of the chicleros, the "extractors" who often work by themselves tapping trees deep in the forests, and how they have emerged as icons of local pop culture -- portrayed as fearless, hard-drinking brawlers, people to be respected as well as feared. --publisher description.

Schwartz (anthropology, U. of Delaware) examines the social history of Peten, in the lowlands of Northern Guatemala, in the context of changing relationships between ecology and society, between state power and community culture, and among world economics, regional politics, and subregional sociocultural patterns. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

There is a rapidly growing interest in, and demand for, non-timber forest products (NTFPs). They provide critical resources across the globe fulfilling nutritional, medicinal, financial and cultural needs. However, they have been largely overlooked in mainstream conservation and forestry politics. This volume explains the use and importance of certification and eco-labelling for guaranteeing best management practices of non-timber forest products in the field. Using extensive case studies and global profiles of non-timber forest products, this work not only seeks to further our comprehension of certification processes but also broaden understanding of non-timber forest product management, harvesting and marketing. It should be useful to forest managers, policy-makers and conservation organizations as well as for academics in these areas.

Vols. for 1904-1926 include also decisions of the United States Board of General Appraisers.

Collector's Originality Guide: Ford Model A is the definitive guide to one of the greatest cars in American history: The Ford Model A. The successor to the ubiquitous and world-changing Model T, the Model A arrived on the scene in 1928 to considerable fanfare, thanks to the marketing genius of Henry Ford. And this much-hyped car delivered exactly what the public wanted: a solid, reliable, up-to-date--and beautiful--new car. Naturally, this car became an instant classic, and has been a favorite among collectors and restorers for decades. In this paperback reissue of the highly popular hardcover book, author and photographer Jim Schild walks through all of the details of the Model A's four-year production, providing collectors with everything they need to know to identify, classify, and restore these fabulous cars. Filled with gorgeous color photography, this book has been and continues to be a must-have for all Model A fans.