Lucien Gagnon

Lucien Gagnon (8 January 1793 – 7 January 1843) was a farmer who fought in the Lower Canada Rebellion.
Biography.
Gagnon was born in La Prairie, Quebec. He was among the first to take part in the agitation in Canada against the British government, was present at the assembly of the six confederate counties at St. Charles, 23 October 1837, and left the meeting convinced that insurrection was the only remedy for Canadian grievances. He then traveled through every part of the parish of St. Valentine and the neighboring parishes, preparing the people for the struggle.
After being defeated at St. Charles, the chiefs of the insurrection, who had fled to the United States, decided, after reaching Swanton, to return to Canada. They were convinced that Robert Nelson was waiting for them at St. Cesaire at the head of a considerable force. As they were not numerous enough to venture on such an incursion, Gagnon offered to go to Canada and return with a sufficient number to give the enterprise a chance of success. He crossed the frontier during the night, raised his native parish, as well as the surrounding ones, and succeeded in organizing a band of 50 determined men with whom he managed to recross the frontier, although it was well guarded. The band entered Swanton, where it was received with enthusiasm by the refugees and by the Americans who at this point did everything to help the insurgents.
Between 70 and 80 men passed into Canada, but, on their way to join Nelson, they met 400 volunteers who were waiting for them at Moore's Corner. In the fight that ensued, Gagnon was twice wounded, and escaped across the frontier with great difficulty. He was soon afterward joined by his wife, her mother, and his eight children, who had been driven, almost naked, from their home under circumstances of great barbarity.
On 28 February, Gagnon attempted to enter Canada with a band of 300 men which had been organized by Nelson. They were arrested at the frontier by U. S. troops, and tried for violating the neutrality laws, but, as they were without arms, they were acquitted. Gagnon afterward entered Canada and was charged by Nelson with the duty of keeping up free communication between Rouse's Point and Napierville. He was present at the fight at Odelltown, 10 November 1838, and succeeded in reaching the United States afterward. The privations that he had endured caused consumption, which ultimately ended his life; he died at Champlain, New York.
References.
Attribution:


Dutch Bantam

The Dutch Bantam () is a breed of bantam chicken originating in the Netherlands. It is a true bantam, a naturally small bird with no related large fowl from which it was miniaturized. It is kept mainly for exhibition, and has been bred in many color varieties; it is a good layer of small eggs.
History.
Diminutive chickens of similar coloration to today's Dutch Bantams have been seen in the Netherlands for hundreds of years, but the exact origin of the breed is unclear. It is likely that the ancestors of the Dutch Bantam were Southeast Asian bantams brought back by sailors from the Dutch East Indies. Historically, it is supposed that these tiny chickens were selectively bred because only small eggs could be kept by peasant farmers, while larger ones were required to be sent to the kitchens of the landed gentry. The first written reference to the Dutch Bantam as a distinct breed is in the "Hand- en standaardboek" of R.T. Maitland, director of the of The Hague, published in 1882; he referred to them as , "partridge bantams". The Nederlandse Hoender Club, the Dutch national poultry club, recognized the breed in 1906. A breeders' association, the Hollandse Krielenfokkers Club, was formed in 1946.
The Dutch Bantam was first exported to the United States in the 1950s. It was included in the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association in 1992 in two colors; four others were later added. It reached the United Kingdom towards the end of the 1960s; the British Dutch Bantam Club was formed in 1982, and thirteen colors are standardized. It is also reared in Germany and in South Africa.
Characteristics.
Dutch Bantams are among the smallest breeds of true bantam. Cock birds should weigh no more than 550 grams, and hens 450 grams. Due to their light weight and relatively large wings, Dutch Bantams fly rather well. The original type of plumage for Dutch Bantams was a partridge pattern. Twenty-nine colour varieties are recognised by the Dutch association. All varieties should have a comb with 5 points, white earlobes, slate blue legs, apart from certain varieties and white skin.
The breed is friendly in temperament, but somewhat flighty. Their small size and comb type makes them not especially cold hardy. Dutch Bantam hens make good mothers and will easily go broody. Uniquely for bantams, and especially ones popular in showing, Dutch Bantams lay well; they can produce 160 cream or white eggs in a year, though the size of the egg is much smaller than commercial layers. Due to their friendly character and egg laying ability, the breed is well suited to hobbyists and backyard keepers needing a bantam-sized bird.


George Sewell (politician)

George Malakoff Sewell (6 September 1855 – 8 March 1916) was an Australian farmer and politician who served as a Country Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1914 until his death, representing South-East Province.
Sewell was born in Beverley, Western Australia, to Anna (née Parker) and John Sewell. His uncle, Stephen Stanley Parker, and a first cousin, Stephen Henry Parker, were also member of parliaments. After leaving school, Sewell farmed at Pingelly, where he had inherited the property "Maplestead" from his father. Becoming prominent in agricultural circles, he was elected to the Pingelly Road Board in 1904, and later served as chairman for a period. Sewell entered the Legislative Council in August 1914, at a by-election occasioned by the death of Charles Piesse. He was one of ten candidates to standard for Country Party preselection, but was only opposed by one other candidate in the election itself. Sewell served in parliament until he died of cancer in March 1916, aged 60.


John Edwards (Kentucky politician)

John Edwards (17481837) was an American planter and statesman who played a key role in securing Kentucky statehood, and represented the new state in the United States Senate.
Edwards was born in Stafford County, Virginia and move to Fayette County to start a plantation in what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky around 1780. He represented his county in the Virginia House of Delegates in several years and was part of the commission that determined the borders for Kentucky in 1788. In 1792 he was a delegate to the convention that drafted the first constitution for the new state, and when statehood was accomplished he and John Brown were the first U.S. Senators for Kentucky.
After his term as a senator he served in both houses of the state legislature. He died on his plantation and was buried in the family graveyard near Paris, Kentucky.
His sons, Haden Edwards and Benjamin W. Edwards, were land speculators in Texas who led the failed Fredonian Rebellion against Mexican control.


Crops Research Institute

History.
CSIR - Crops Research Institute (CRI) is one of the thirteen (13) research Institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of Ghana (CSIR). CSIR-CRI evolved from the Specialists' branch of the Gold Coast Department of Agriculture. In 1959, the Specialists' branch and the Soil and Land Use Survey Department were merged to form the Scientific Services Division of the then Ministry of Agriculture (MOFA). The Scientific Services Division was transferred to the National Research Council in 1962 and then to the Ghana Academy of Sciences in 1963 and renamed the Agriculture Research Institute (ARI). In October 1963, the Ghana Academy of Sciences reorganized the ARI into two units - Crops Research Unit (CRU) and Soil Research Unit. In 1964, the CRU became a full-fledged Institute and was named the Crops Research Institute (CRI). When the Academy of Sciences was reorganized in 1968 into the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), CRI became one of its Institutes. It was renamed CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in 2006.
Vision.
To become a Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Research, Innovation and Capacity Building for Development.
Mission.
Develop and disseminate environmentally sound technologies and build capacity for sustainable food and industrial crop productivity to enhance livelihoods.
Mandate.
CSIR-CRI is Mandated to research covering the following food and industrial crops:
Research Programmes.
Current research programmes seek to improve on the yields of the mandate food crops as well as their resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, make them adaptable to climate change and suitable for various end-user needs.
Other areas of research focus are Resource and Crop Management, Seed Technology, Plant Health (comprising Plant Pathology, Virology, Nematology, Entomology, Biological Control and Weed Science) and Post-harvest.
The objectives are to develop improved crop varieties, high quality planting materials and sustainable, environmentally-friendly and good production practices, that can be easily adopted by farmers to increase their productivity and also to reduce post-harvest losses. Socio-economic research is also conducted to assess the circumstances of farmers and processors, measure the adoption rates of the Institute's technologies, by the various clients as well as the impact of these technologies and make recommendations. These core programmes are supported by Biometrics, Information Communication Technologies and Technology Transfer activities.
Research Facilities.
CSIR-CRI has its head office at Fumesua (near Kumasi). Facilities available for research activities include:


New Forests of Aarhus

New Forests of Aarhus (Danish: "De nye Aarhus Skove") is the collective name for a series of woodlands near the city of Aarhus in Denmark. All the forests have recently been planted as part of the plan called "Aarhus omkranset af skov" (lit: Aarhus surrounded by forest). The plan was initiated by the Aarhus city council in 1988, with the overall aim of doubling the municipality's forested area by the year 2000. As the old forests comprised 1,300 ha, there is controversy whether this goal has been met entirely.
Woodlands.
The New Forests of Aarhus comprise these newly raised and public woodlands:
The total woodland area totals about 510 ha. In cooperation with the Danish Nature Agency, True Skov was raised in 1994 west of Aarhus. True Skov is planned to be a 650 ha woodland, and 385 ha was afforested by 2013. The forest is technically speaking being run by the State of Denmark, but the woodland pools up with the municipal forests in order to reach the goals stated in the 1988 plan.
Aarhus municipality states that their initial goals have been met, but this is clearly not true, as the old forests comprise a minimum of 1,300 ha. With the newly raised True Skov, the total area totaled 895 hectare as of 2013. For unknown reasons, some newly raised forests outside Aarhus municipality before the year 2000 are sometimes included in the area count but seldom mentioned in connection with the 1988 plan and the New Forests of Aarhus. One example is Himmerigskov at 140 ha in the adjacent municipality of Favrskov, planted between 1991 and 1995 in connection with Bærmose Skov by the Danish Nature Agency. Aarhus municipality claims that the State has contributed a total of 700 ha. It is thus unclear whether the original 1988 plan was reached in time. Whatever the truth, there are new afforestation plans going on and they might stitch and patch the 1988 plan in the end.
Background.
There were several reasons for initiating the afforestation around Aarhus. The municipality highlights these specific reasons:
The forests—except those run by the State—are all part of the city's nature management program.
The future.
Aarhus Municipality wants even more woodland than the 1988 plan called for more than thirty years ago. In the year 2009, strategic plans called for doubling the forested area in Aarhus Municipality once again, before the year 2030. This aim is claimed to amount to 3,200 ha of new forest. As of 2012, 320 ha of additional woodland has been planted.
Not all the new forest will be public. In order to reach the ambitious goal, attractive subsidies are being offered to private landowners.


Matthias Christian Rabbethge

Matthias Christian Rabbethge (1 March 1804, Klein Rodensleben – 26 December 1902, Klein Wanzleben) was a German sugar beet grower and sugar manufacturer.


Tiko

Tiko, originally called ‘Keka’ by the Bakweris, is a town and important port in the southwest region of Cameroon. The settlement grew as a market town for Duala (or Douala) fishermen, Bakweri (Kpwe people) farmers and hunters from Molyko, Bwenga, Bulu and Bokova. The core quarters in Tiko include Streets 1 to 7, Motombolombo, Down Beach, New Quarter, P&T quarters, New Layout, Long Street, Likomba, Golf Club, Mutengene, Ombe. As of 2010, the town is estimated to have a population of 55,914.
Tiko is a popular destination for tourists visiting Cameroon. The town is also an industrial area which is mostly occupied by the CDC (Cameroon Development Co-operation), which produces rubber, banana, and palm oil. Tiko hosts the Tiko Golf Club, which is a popular destination for golf lovers. The Likomba Golf Course is located in Likomba which has 18 holes. During the dry season, major golf tournaments are held there, as it is one of only 2 golf courses in Cameroon.
Tiko also hosts the special forces, which explains the peace and security enjoyed by the inhabitants.
Mutengene, a small town west of Tiko, is a cross roads leading to Buea and Limbe, Cameroon (Formerly called Victoria).
The closest towns with coordinates:
Facilities.
Tiko is home to many colleges, including Christ the King College, GBHS, Imperial Academy of Arts and Science (IMPASS), Sure Foundation Comprehensive College, and Plive College.
There are two major hotels. Airport Hotel, which derived its name from the Tiko airport, is located on Long Street. This hotel was built in the early 70s. It used to have a very popular nightclub which attracted folks and musicians not only from within but also from out of Cameroon.
3813 is the second of the two hotels. It was built around the year 2002 and is located along the Tiko-Douala road. It has a supermarket, a swimming pool and a night club for dancing. Internet access is also available.
Tiko is well known for its Nigerian (Igbo people) population, as well as its organized marketplace. The Tiko Market is one of the most renowned markets in West Africa. People traveled from surrounding villages, cities, and countries to shop or conduct business in Tiko. The market is currently being rebuilt after a fire destroyed the shops on 2 March 2010.
Tiko United FC is Tiko's most famous football club. Tiko United is the first club west of the Mongo to have won the championship title since its inception some 50 years ago.
Plantation railways.
Plantations in the Tiko area were originally served by narrow gauge plantation railways.


Humane Society International Australia

Humane Society International Australia (HSIA) is the Australian branch of Humane Society International (HSI), an offshoot of the international animal protection organisation, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
History.
Humane Society International (HSI) was established in the United States in 1991. The Australian branch of HSI was the second HSI office to open under the emerging global program, in 1994. The office, located in Sydney, has been operating for two decades under the direction of Verna Simpson and Michael Kennedy. HSI Australia works on national and international conservation and animal protection policy and law, with a special responsibility to reach out to its regional neighbors.
At its 1994 inception, the Australian program ran on a budget of less than A$50,000. A few years later, HSI Australia became a regional NGO with a team of staff & consultants, members across the country, and a budget of $2.5 million. HSI Australia also supports activities internationally.
Rationale.
HSI Australia’s vision is consistent with the founding vision of HSI: to change the way people interact with animals and their environments through education and advocacy. The organisation works to protect animals through the development of more ecologically sustainable and humane practices. It runs numerous conservation and animal protection campaigns that cover a broad range in both marine and terrestrial areas.
HSI Australia also assists the campaigns of international branches of HSI, such as the anti-Canadian seal hunt and the anti-wildlife trade campaigns. The organisation supports grants and programs across Asia and Africa.
Campaigns and areas of focus.
Farm animal welfare.
The organisation is opposed to the export of live animals from Australia , and believes that the frozen meat market is a readily available and ethical option for the industry. Factory farming is a particular focus, as HSI Australia believes that factory farming practices cause unnecessary suffering. The organisation works with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding legislation for pork and poultry, which includes their truthful labeling campaign.
Humane Choice - True Free Range, is an accreditation program in which farms can become accredited to Humane Choice standards and be recognised as a 'True Free Range' producer.
Animal testing.
Alongside Humane Research Australia (HRA), HSI Australia helped pass the End Cruel Cosmetics Bill, which was introduced by Australian Greens senator Lee Rhiannon. Through the Bill, HSI Australia seeks to achieve a national testing and sales ban in Australia and New Zealand.
Marine campaigns.
HSI Australia publicly criticizes Japanese whaling and the Western Australian shark cull. The organisation is a member of the Antarctic Ocean Alliance.
HSI Australia's initial legal action against Japan's scientific whaling led to an International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, which ruled in March 2014 that Japan's plan lacked scientific merit. Following the announcement of Japan's "Newrep-A" plan, scheduled to commence in December 2015, senior program officer Alexia Wellbelove stated: "It is now time that Japan listened to international public opinion and consigned their so-called research program and plans to resume commercial whaling to history where it belongs."
HSI Australia is against the use of lethal shark control measures within Australia, and has spoken out about the lack of scientific evidence behind the use of such practices as a mitigation strategy. HSI Australia also campaigned alongside its international counterparts to ban the Canadian seal hunt, and is pushing for an end to the trade.
Racing.
HSI Australia has taken a critical stance on horse racing, specifically steeplechase, due to the horse deaths and injuries that occur. HSI Australia is campaigning towards its ban in all states.
The group also campaigns against Australian Greyhound racing, with a focus placed upon the New South Wales (NSW) sector of the industry. HSI Australia seeks greater transparency in the industry, including stricter welfare standards, and better reporting and investigation of cruelty and mistreatment.
Fur trade.
HSI Australia works alongside HSUS, HSI Canada and HSI in the United Kingdom (UK) to highlight the practices of the global fur industry. Within Australia, HSI Australia successfully lobbied for a ban on the import of cat and dog fur, and praises designers and retailers who participate in the ban on fur.
The dog meat trade is an ongoing campaign that HSI is working on with its partners, including the Soi Dog Foundation.
Threatened ecological communities.
HSI Australia is committed to long term conservation initiatives, and nominates ecological communities under threat for listing under both the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) and the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 (TSC Act).
Climate change.
HSI Australia aims to combat climate change through the protection of biodiversity.
Wildlife trade.
Through representation at international conferences such as CITES, HSI Australia works to combat the global trade in wildlife.
Wildlife Land Trust.
In 2007, HSI launched the Wildlife Land Trust Australia (WLT). The principle of WLT is "humane stewardship" for the purpose of developing a network of permanent sanctuaries throughout the country as well as internationally.
Humane Choice.
Humane Choice was launched by HSI Australia in 2006. It is a certification scheme that indicates the humane treatment of farm animals.
Places You Love Alliance.
HSI Australia is a member of the Places You Love Alliance, a campaign which includes other not-for-profit environmental advocacy groups, such as The Wilderness Society and the International Fund for Animal Welfare Australia.
Publications.
HSI Australia produces numerous publications:


American Loggers

American Loggers was a television series on the Discovery Channel. It was filmed in Maine, debuted in 2009, and went off the air in 2011 after three seasons.
Storyline.
The show follows the Pelletier family from Millinocket, Maine. With their companies Gerald Pelletier, Inc and Pelletier Brothers, Inc they have a long tradition of logging in the North Maine Woods region of northern woods of Maine.
Meanwhile, the family has expanded the fields they work in. Trailer manufacturing and a restaurant business have been added to the business.


Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum

The Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum is located at 600 Interstate 30 East, in the city of Greenville, county of Hunt, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was established in 1987. Cotton was Hunt County's largest cash crop in the early 20th century, and the museum features a "History of Cotton" exhibit.
Much of the focus of the museum is dedicated to military veterans. Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy was born in Hunt County and worked in Greenville before entering the military. The Hunt County War Memorial was dedicated on the museum's grounds in 2004. The memorial features a bronze statue of Murphy created by Greenville artist Gordon Thomas. The granite stones that circle the monument are carved with the names of the county's war dead. Other stones contain quotes from Murphy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.
In 2012, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio transferred its collection of Murphy-related memorabilia to the museum for its permanent collection. The museum sponsors the area's annual Audie Murphy Days, usually scheduled in June.


Malvazija Istarska


Marka, Oslo

Marka is the name of the forested and hilly areas surrounding Oslo, Norway. It includes areas within the municipality of Oslo, but also large areas in Hole, Ringerike, Jevnaker, Lunner, Nittedal, Bærum, Asker, and other municipalities in Viken county. The name is actually just the finite form of "mark" (Norse "mǫrk" f) 'woodland, forest'. (See also Finnmark, Hedmark, Telemark, Marker and Aremark.)
Though not designated a borough of Oslo, it is a major recreational area for the population of Oslo, and development in the area is for the most part prohibited. Despite being used frequently by many inhabitants of Oslo, especially at weekends, the fauna of "marka" includes species such as lynx, wolf, beaver, moose and roe deer.
The term Oslomarka is usually used for all the recreational areas around Oslo. Marka is the administrative name for the part of it that lies inside the city limits. Neighboring municipalities (most of which lie in Viken) do not have the same kind of administrative division as Oslo, and thus do not have any separate administrative arrangement for their parts of the area. The area within Oslo municipality is divided into two parts. The population and agricultural areas of Marka are located mainly in two valleys, Sørkedalen and Maridalen.
Oslomarka is further divided into:
Of these, Vestmarka, Kjekstadmarka, Romeriksåsene, Follomarka and Sørmarka lie almost entirely outside the city limits.


Michael Taylor (forester)

Michael W. Taylor (born 25 April 1966, in Los Angeles) is a leading discoverer of champion and tallest trees - most notably coast redwoods. In 2006, Taylor co-discovered the tallest known tree in the world, a coast redwood ("Sequoia sempervirens") now named "Hyperion". He also discovered "Helios" and "Icarus", the 2nd and 3rd tallest.
National Geographic made a video about the discovery and measuring of Hyperion. The discovery made headlines.
Taylor has discovered 50 coast redwoods over tall, and co-discovered approximately 100 more with Chris Atkins and Stephen Sillett, who is the first holder of the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at Humboldt State University. Taylor and Sillett have collaborated and measured remarkable previously unknown redwoods. Their discoveries have fueled research and public interest in coast redwoods, which are now a World Heritage Site.
Michael is a main character of the non-fiction book (2007) "The Wild Trees". The narrative includes how Taylor began exploring for tall trees, measuring tallest trees, and later networking with Pacific coast forest researchers.
Taylor co-discovered the largest known coast redwood named Lost Monarch in the Grove of Titans, as well as Iluvatar in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
Tallest tree discoveries.
Redwoods: Helios and Icarus were discovered in 2006, shortly before Hyperion. Hyperion was the record height coast redwood that prompted National Geographic Society and Save-the-Redwoods League to coordinate a documentary. These are just 3 of many coast redwoods over feet which Michael Taylor discovered. The details are chronicled at www.talltreesclub.org
Pines: Discovery of 4 new world's tallest pine trees, January, 2011.
Largest coast redwood discoveries.
Taylor discovered and co-discovered the largest known coast redwoods. The locations of these trees have not been disclosed by the National and California State Parks to the general public. For more information see www.landmarktrees.net
Education.
Taylor attended Humboldt State University from 1984-87 studying forestry, attended San Diego State University in 1988, returned to Humboldt State University 1992-94 completing a bachelor of science in environmental engineering.
Location.
Michael Taylor resides in northern California.


James Bower (agrarian leader)

James Bower (26 January 1860 – 16 May 1921) was born to Irish immigrants in Upper Canada.
Bower became a successful farmer and farm leader in western Canada. He served for a time as president of the Canadian Council of Agriculture.


German Pekin

The German Pekin () is a European breed of domestic duck. It is commonly called simply Pekin or White Pekin. It is a different breed from the American Pekin, which is also commonly known by the same names. It was bred in Europe from birds originating in China and Japan and is distributed in many European countries.
History.
The mallard was probably domesticated in China before 1000 AD. Force-feeding of ducks is documented from the tenth century, under the Five Dynasties. Chinese people were sophisticated breeders of ducks. Among several breeds they created was one named "shi-chin-ya-tze", or roughly "ten-pound duck".
In 1872 some birds of this type were imported to the United Kingdom by Walter Steward; others were taken to the United States by James E. Palmer, where they gave rise to the American Pekin breed. Some soon reached Germany from the UK, possibly via France.
In Germany the Chinese ducks were cross-bred with upright white ducks brought from Japan by Dutch ships, resulting in birds with a steep body angle; those taken to the United States were crossed with Aylesbury birds, which led to birds with a more horizontal stance. In Britain as in Germany, breeders in the early twentieth century tended to select for an upright body position. The modern British breed derives mostly from birds imported from Germany from about 1970.
The German Pekin is listed as "seriously endangered" in the Rote Liste of the Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen, a German national association for the conservation of historic and endangered domestic animal breeds. In the United Kingdom it is considered "vulnerable".
Characteristics.
The Pekin is heavily feathered; the plumage is creamy white with a yellowish tinge. The beak is short and orange-coloured. The body is broad and heavy, and is held almost vertical. In the United Kingdom, drakes weigh approximately and ducks about , while in Germany drakes weigh approximately and ducks about .
Use.
The Pekin was intended to be a table bird, reared for its meat. In Germany it has not been kept for agricultural production since about the time of the Second World War, and is a show bird. Ducks lay about 80 eggs per year; the eggs weigh approximately


De Hoop, Ouddorp

De Hoop ("Hope") is a flour windmill in Ouddorp built in 1845 and fully renovated in 1984.
It is one of the few windmills in the Netherlands that is still privately owned, and is still in full commercial operation.
History.
Ouddorp is a village on the northwestern tip of the island of Goeree-Overflakkee in Zeeland,
with a 14th-century church in the marketplace.
The precursor of the mill was built around 1600. The old mill most likely had two pairs of millstone.
In 1844 the Voogd family decided to close the old mill and replace it with a round stone mill with three pairs of stones.
The mill was built in 1845 for J. Zoeter and D. Voogd, on the site of an existing mill.
Until 1952 it had three pairs of millstones for grinding grain for the local farmers.
It was then out of service for some time.
Between 1982 and 1984 there was a major renovation in which the sails were overhauled and given automatic speed controls. The machinery was entirely replaced. Significant repairs and upgrades were again made in 2008, 2011 and 2012.
Operations.
The mill now operates every day except Sunday, powered by electricity on weekdays and using wind power on Saturdays.
The mill may be visited by appointment.
The mill is still owned by the Voogd family. As of 2013 the owner was Piet Voogd.
There is a store beside the mill where flour products are sold.
References.
Citations
Sources
External links


U.S. Salinity Laboratory

The U.S. Salinity Laboratory is a National Laboratory for research on salt-affected soil-plant-water systems. It resorts under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is located in Riverside, California, U.S.A.
The mission of its staff is to develop, amongst other, new knowledge and technology for crop production on salt-affected lands.
History.
The Lab started its operations in 1947 at Riverside.
In 1954 one of the first all encompassing publications, the USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 60, has seen the light
Research focus.
Saline and alkali soil conditions reduce the value and productivity of considerable areas of land in the United States. The problem is an old one, and there is much information on this subject in the technical literature. Many crop failures result from growing crops that have low salt tolerance. Alfalfa, barley, sugar beets, and cotton are tolerant crops that can often be grown where salinity is a problem.
Data bases.
The Salinity Laboratory keeps data bases of salt tolerance of crops divided into 5 groups: 1) Fiber, Grain and Special Crops, 2) Grasses and Forage Crops, 3) Vegetables and Fruit Crops, 4) Woody Crops, 5) Ornamental Shrubs, Trees and Ground Cover.
Salinity models.
Software for quite a number of soil salinity models covering different aspects was developed at Riverside, including the Hydrus model and the Van Genuchten–Gupta model.


Simonian Farms

Simonian Farms is a farm belonging to the Simonian family and is a renowned produce market and museum in Fresno, California. The produce market sells various local fruits, grains, and honey. The farm has become a local tourist attraction due to its produce, vineyards, fields, and orchards.
Farm.
History.
The farm was founded by Armenian immigrant Baghdasar Simonian in 1901. Simonian first arrived in Ellis Island, New York from Armenia in 1892. He settled in Fresno, California and started the Simonian Farms by producing raisins. The Simonian family was already familiar with agricultural practices from their native homeland. Since its establishment, the company continued to expand. The farm was eventually inherited by his son Michael.
After Michael Simonian, the management of the farm was passed on to its current owners, and third generation of management, Bonnie and Dennis Simonian. Under the management of Dennis and Bonnie, the Farm expanded into a market and museum.
Location.
The Simonian Farm is located on its original location on Clovis & Jensen Ave. The size of the property is . The farm produces more than 180 crops and seasonal fruits which include cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, apples, pomegranates, blackberries, grapes, boysenberries, figs and persimmons. The vineyard is also used to produce signature wines. In 1995, President Bill Clinton visited the farm. The Simonian family was invited to attend Clinton's inauguration in January, 1997.
Museum.
The museum called "Old Town" was opened in 2012 and has a western styled theme. The museum features various old artifacts such as automobiles, tractors, and farming equipment. The museum also features a "Route 66 Shooting Range" for the youth. When constructing the museum, Bonnie Simonian said that "We hope to tell the history of the Fresno area from the 1850s to the 1960s."


Paimpont forest

Paimpont Forest (, ) also known as Brocéliande Forest () is a temperate forest located around the village of Paimpont in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, France. Covering an area of 9,000 hectares, it includes the castles Château de Comper and Château de Trécesson as well as the national historical site the Forges of Paimpont, and is part of a larger forest area that covers the neighboring departments of Morbihan and Côtes-d'Armor. It has been associated with the forest of Brocéliande and many locations from the Arthurian legend, including Val sans retour, the tomb of Merlin, and the fountain of Barenton.
Geography and ecosystem.
The forest is located in the north-western French region of Brittany, about 30 km south-west of the city of Rennes. It occupies mainly the territory of the commune of Paimpont but extends to bordering communes in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, mainly Guer and Beignon in the south, Saint-Péran in the northeast, and Concoret in the north.
The woodland surrounding Paimpont is the remains of a denser and much larger forest. It is mainly a broadleaved forest, mostly oaks and beech, with areas of conifers either inside after clear-felling or on the periphery as a transition with a moor, for example towards the west in the sector in the area of Tréhorenteuc and the Val sans Retour. The relative altitude of the forested massif contributes to give it a climate close to the oceanic climate of the coasts of Finistère coast. This, in addition of west and south-west winds that carry clouds and rain supports vegetation, which dominates. The surplus of water feeds the many brooks occupying the bottoms of small valleys before flowing into the river Aff, then into the Vilaine, to the area around Redon in the south of Ille-et-Vilaine.
The altitude decreases regularly from the highest point to 258 m in the western part called high forest ("haute forêt"), regularly offering views towards the department of Morbihan; viewpoints which one finds the equivalents in the north on the commune of Mauron, port of the Côtes-d'Armor. The road from Forges to Concoret, which goes north through Paimpont, separates the high forest and the low forest, both of comparable size.
History.
Paimpont forest was known as Brocélien in the 15th century. In Breton, it was called Brec'Helean. Because of its importance, the forest was put under royal jurisdiction. It has been repeatedly exploited for construction needs of the city of Rennes, in particular in the 15th century.
The Forges of Paimpont were the most important wood forges of Brittany, operating from the 16th century until the end of the 19th century. Their location was enabled by the proximity of an open-cast deposit of iron ore at Gelée, a site near the village of Paimpont, the existence of a major river system, and the easy supply of locally produced charcoal. The forest was overexploited for the needs of the forges.
During the French Revolution, the abolition of protection triggered massive clearings of the forest as the wood was excessively exploited for the power supply of the charcoal blast furnaces for the local industry. In 1804, the prefect of the department wrote the forest at Paimpont was in a state of degradation and threatened by complete destruction.
In 1875, the forest was bought from Prince Philippe, Count of Paris by shipowner and industrialist Louis Levesque, for rest and pleasure. The new owner created the Domaine de Paimpont and organized hunts of wild boars and deer. The exploitation of the forest by the local population was restricted to be only under licenses and the supervision of private forest rangers. Between the two World Wars, the forest has been part of the hunting grounds of the Duke of Westminster.
During World War I, the forest, deprived of most of its guards, was affected by major fires of unknown origin. During World War II, paratroopers of the SAS of Free France were dropped to join the partisans of the FFI in the forest with the mission of delaying German reinforcements as part of the Normandy landings in 1944.
In September 1990, a fire devastated the forest of Paimpont, especially the Val sans Retour, raging for five days. Afterward, from 1991-1992, thousands of volunteers planted more than half-million new trees. In the 1990s, a dam project on the Aff for the water supply of the Rennes region caused controversy and protests before being abandoned.
Today.
Forest management.
The forest is an area of ZNIEFF and Natura 2000. It is owned mainly privately by those who maintain and exploit it for timber and for hunting; only a small part in the northeast (10%) is state owned and managed by the National Forest Office. This situation prevents free movement in the forest, even on the outskirts of the village and its lake. The owners have however signed an agreement authorizing the hiking, although some paths of the forest are closed during the hunting season. Forest guards watch for behaviors that threaten the forest and its flora and fauna.
Tourism and legends.
The Paimpont forest benefits from its association, since the 13th century, with the legendary forest of Brocéliande that has become the site of many episodes of the Arthurian legend in the French tradition. The identification with Brocéliande became institutionalized with the creation of the communauté de communes de Brocéliande, which was itself regrouped within a supra-intercommunal structure named the Pays de Brocéliande.
The area has been a tourist destination site since the 19th century, especially after 1945. Since 1951, followers of Neo-Druidism also meet there periodically, including in organized ceremonies. The Paimpont sites are implemented through signs and pedestrian trails designed to introduce visitors to Arthurian locations, with explanatory panels linking each place to a legendary tale.
Locations and legends.
Building sites.
Abbey of Notre-Dame.
The Abbey Notre-Dame de Paimpont is a tourist and cultural location at edge of lake Paimpont. It is built in medieval Gothic style (walls, openings, baptistery and the Blessed Sacrament chapel, vault) with an interior (pulpit, statues, altars, altarpieces) in the Baroque style of the 17th century.
The abbey was built in the 13th century on the site of a priory founded in 645 by Judicaël, king of Domnonée. It has been originally a Benedictine monastery, but from the 13th century has been inhabited by canons until the Revolution, when the abbey was nationalized and sold as biens nationaux in 1790.
Forges of Paimpont.
The historical industrial site has been listed as a Historic monument since 2001 and had a reconstruction before it was opened to the public. Located at Ille-et-Vilaine, it is actually closer to Plélan-le-Grand than to Paimpont.
Château de Comper.
It is a former castle and a mansion located in northern part of the forest, two kilometers east of the village of Concoret. From the 13th century, Comper has been one of the strongest positions of Upper Brittany. The castle has been the scene of much fighting, including being badly damaged by fire in out-of-control riots in the forest during the Revolution in 1790, and has passed into the hands of several families. The mansion at the site now houses the exhibitions of the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien (Center of the Arthurian Imagination). Adjoining it is a pond where, according to a local legend, the Lady of the Lake Viviane lived in her underwater crystal palace.
Château de Trécesson.
Located outside the village and the forest, immediately in its extension to the southwest, the castle was rebuilt in its current state in the 15th century. The most famous of the legends associated with it is the one of the "Mariée de Trécesson" (of "white lady" type) that unusually for the region has no Arthurian connections but instead seems to be inspired by a true story.
Biological station.
The biological station of Paimpont, under the University of Rennes, was built in 1966-1967. The forest and its varied environments provide a framework for many courses involving Rennes students studying biology as well as many students and foreign researchers, the buildings to accommodate about 70 people. Although the first researchers studied at length the ecology of the moors, soils and hydrology, other works concern subjects far removed from the local biotope such as the behavior of primates.
Megalithic sites.
Hotié de Viviane.
Also called the Maison de Viviane (House of Viviane) or the Tombeau des Druides (Tomb of the Druids), it is a funeral circle of stones dating from about 4,500 ago. It is located near the Val sans retour and has been known under this name since 1843.
Tombeau de Merlin.
In the northern part of the forest is the "Tomb of Merlin", a remnant of a Neolithic covered dolmen structure. It has been largely destroyed with dynamite by treasure hunters after the site became associated with the Arthurian figure of Merlin in 1889.
According to the legend, having seduced Merlin, Viviane imprisoned him in an invisible prison, and then locked him in a tomb: Merlin, having lain down in a pit, had two enormous stones cast down on him. Today, it became an important site of neopagan pilgrimages. Visitors to the site might leave flowers and a note to Merlin, often with a wish, or some kind of devotional object.
The Fontaine dite de Jouvence (Fountain of Youth) is a water hole near the Tomb of Merlin. Also nearby there is an old tree known as the chêne des Hindrés.
Tombeau du Géant.
The tumulus consists of three or four menhirs erected 5,000 years ago. Three menhirs were reused in the Bronze Age about 3,500 years ago as a funerary vault; the fourth is on the ground about ten meters. Formerly covered with a mound of earth, the site is by its impressive dimensions nicknamed "Tomb of a Giant". According to local tradition, it is the tomb of a giant defeated by the Knights of the Round Table.
Jardin aux Moines.
The "Garden of Monks", located in Néant-sur-Yvel, also called Jardin aux tombes ("Garden of Tombs"), is a megalithic tumulus dating from 5,000 to 4,500 ago. It is one of the many such mounds present in this region.
Natural sites.
Val sans retour.
Val sans retour (the Vale of No Return), is the most famous tourist place of the forest, located near Tréhorenteuc, west of Paimpont. It is a steep valley dug deep in red shale, the color resulting from the oxidation of the iron ore it contains. During the 19th century, there have been two competing of locations of the Vale in the forest, the other having been in the vallée de la Marette near the Tomb of Merlin and also including the initial location of the Tomb of Viviane, until Félix Bellamy decided in 1896 that this one is the place that inspired the anonymous author of the 13th century to write the episode of the Vale in the Prose "Lancelot".
According to the French tradition of Arthurian legend, Queen Morgan le Fay, half-sister of King Arthur, betrayed by her lover, decided to keep all the unfaithful knights as prisoners in a vale of that name. Only Lancelot, faithful to Queen Guinevere, was able to break the spell, escape, and free the captive knights.
High above the Vale, the rocher des Faux-Amants (Rock of False Lovers) is the spot where Morgan le Fay is said to have turned her lover who betrayed her into stone. Another location is the Siège de Merlin (Seat of Merlin), a rock overlooking the valley.
A lake that since the 1940s has been known as the Miroir aux Fées (Fairy Mirror) marks the entrance to the Vale. Nearby stands also the Eglise du Graal (Church of the Holy Grail), a church that features famous images of Morgan and other Arthurian characters in the Vale.
Remarkable trees.
The forest of Paimpont contains several special trees. One of them is the hêtre de Ponthus (the beech of the Ponthus), being associated with the tale of "Ponthus and Sidonia".
The most famous is an old oak about 1,000 years old and more than 9 meters in circumference: the chêne à Guillotin (the oak of Guillotin), located between Concoret and Tréhorenteuc. According to a local legend, a refractory priest named Pierre-Paul Guillotin took refuge there during the French Revolution, continued to administer sacraments and blessings in the region, and wrote a valuable journal of revolutionary events.
Fontaine de Barenton.
The Fountain of Barenton (also known as Berenton, Belenton or Balenton) is located west of the forest, near the hamlet of Folle-Pensée, and is quite difficult to access. Quoted in medieval literature, this fountain has retained a feature already evoked back then: from time to time rosaries of bubbles rise to its surface. The site has become first associated with the legendary fountain of Brocéliande by Auguste Brizeux in 1836. A local custom made young men and women visit the fountain in search of marriage.
It is here that Ywain, as described by Chrétien de Troyes in "Yvain, the Knight of the Lion", challenged the Black Knight, guardian of the fountain. According to a late legend, this is also where Merlin met Viviane and the water of this fountain would have the power to cure mental illnesses.
References in popular culture.
In "The Witcher" books (Andrezej Sapowski), and subsequent games and Netflix Series, reference is made to the magical wood "Brokilon" as a homage to Broceliande.


William Robert Prince

William Robert Prince (November 6, 1795 in Flushing, Long Island – March 28, 1869 in Flushing) was a United States horticulture pioneer.
Biography.
He was the son of horticulturist William Prince and Mary Stratton. He was educated at Jamaica Academy, Long Island, and at Boucherville, Canada. He imported the first merino sheep into the United States in 1816, continued the “Linnaean nurseries” of his father, and was the first to introduce silk culture and the "Morus multicaulis" for silk worms in 1837, but lost a large fortune by this enterprise, owing to the change in the tariff, which destroyed this industry for several years.
The troubles of the business obligated him to mortgage the Linnaean nurseries, and for a time control of them passed to Gabriel Winter, his brother-in-law. There was a printed dispute with the new owner to which the family attributed the death of his father. Prince eventually regained control of the nurseries. In 1849 he went to California, was a founder of Sacramento, and in 1851 traveled through Mexico. He introduced the culture of osiers and sorghum in 1854/5, and the Chinese yam in 1854.
Just before the American Civil War, he passed control of the nurseries on to his sons. They finally elected not to continue in it, and the nurseries were sold at the end of the war. Spiritualism and the preparation of patent medicines were major occupations of his after he retired from the nursery business.
Works.
He wrote numerous pamphlets on the mulberry, the strawberry, "Dioscorea", medical botany, etc., and about two hundred descriptive catalogues of trees, shrubs, vines, plants, bulbs, etc. Many of his articles were published in "Gardener's Monthly".
Family.
He married Charlotte Goodwin Collins in 1826. They were the parents of New Mexico Territorial governor L. Bradford Prince.


Texel sheep

The Texel is a breed of domestic sheep originally from the island of Texel in the Netherlands. A heavily muscled sheep, it produces a lean meat carcass and will pass on this quality to crossbred progeny. The wool is around 32 micrometres and is mostly used for hosiery yarns and knitting wools. It is presently a popular lean meat sheep across Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
History.
The Texel sheep originated on the island of Texel, the largest of the Wadden Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. The exact origin of the breed is unknown although it is thought to be a cross of the original Texel sheep with multiple English breeds. It was slowly bred into a meat breed of outstanding carcass quality. It is now one of the most common meat breeds in the Netherlands, making up seventy percent of the national flock.
United Kingdom.
In the early 1970s, the superior quality of the Dutch Texel caught the attention of some English breeders who were interested in importing Dutch Texels to the UK. They were unable to import the Dutch Texels at the time and instead opted for importing French ones due to import laws. At the end of the decade UK import laws changed and allowed the import of Dutch Texels.
What is now known as the British Texel has proven to be a huge success in the British Isles, with many stud rams being used in commercial flocks for the production of meat. The breed has shown that its hardy nature and ability to finish for slaughter in a competitive period of time has been well suited to the requirements of the British food market. These qualities have helped the Texel breed become the most popular terminal sire breed in the UK.
In August 2009, a Texel tup lamb named Deveronvale Perfection was sold for a then world record price for a sheep of £231,000. Bred in Banffshire, Scotland, the lamb was sold by Graham Morrison of Cornhill, Aberdeenshire to fellow sheep farmer Jimmy Douglas at a sale in Lanark. The high price has been attributed to the lamb's strong physical attributes, and Deveronvale Perfection will be used for breeding.
On 28th August 2020 a new world record of £368,000 was set after a six-month-old Texel ram was sold in Lanark during the Scottish National Texel Sale.
Australia and New Zealand.
Texels were selected from Denmark and Finland to suit New Zealand and Australian conditions. In addition to their natural attributes of heavy muscling and leanness, they had to be mobile sheep capable of travelling distances, free lambing and easy care. A select Australian flock began quarantine in New Zealand in 1988 and an objective genetic selection program was implemented.
In Australia, the first Texels were born in September, 1993, and the first volume of the Annual Flock Register was produced in April 1994.
In February 2012, selectors (appointed by the Australian Texel Stud Breeders Association Inc.) chose a total of 790 Texel ewes and 50 Texel rams, from a base flock of 2220 Texels available for import to Australia. The Australian Texel Corporation Pty. Ltd. (ATC) was formed by a group of investor-breeders who imported the sheep to Australia and undertook all the embryo transplants and semen collections and was responsible for the release of foetuses via recipient ewes to Australian studmasters.
Peru.
In 1951, Texel sheep breeder and exporter Herman J. Keijser of Den Burg exported 100 Texel ewes and rams to Peru on the cargo ship Baarn, where their stocks were used for both meat and wool.
Characteristics.
The Texel breed is a white-faced breed with no wool on the head or legs. The breed is characterized by a distinctive short, wide face with a black nose and widely placed, short ears with a nearly horizontal carriage. They have black hooves. The wool is of medium grade (46’s-56’s) with no black fibers. Mature animals shear fleece weights of 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) to 5.5 kg (12.1 lbs).
The most outstanding characteristic of the Texel is its remarkable muscle development and leanness. Texel-sired lambs show an advantage of one full leg score in breed comparisons and less total carcass fat—especially seam fat.
A mutation in the 3' UTR of the myostatin gene in Texel sheep creates target sites for the microRNAs miR-1 and miR-206. This is likely to be the genetic cause of the muscular phenotype of this breed of sheep.
Blue Texel.
History.
The Blue Texel was first registered and recorded in the early 1970s in Holland when a blue lamb was born to white parents. After this occurred Texels were deliberately bred to give birth to blue lambs. By 1983 there were 11 flocks with a total of 213 blue texel sheep.
Distribution.
Blue Texels originated in Holland. They can now be found throughout Europe including Holland and The United Kingdom. The Blue Texel has not yet made its way across seas to North America.
Uses.
Blue Texels are typically used as a terminal sire in commercial flocks to add muscle and other meat characteristics to the lambs. Their fleeces are also becoming more popular due to their unique colour pattern. Blue Texels are a new breed in the show ring and often catch the eye of the judge.


Richard Vaughan (cricketer)

Richard Thomas Vaughan (28 May 1908 – 1 April 1966) was an English cricketer who played for Berkshire and Wiltshire, as a right-handed batsman who fielded as a wicket-keeper. In later life he was a farmer and magistrate.
The son of Thomas Hallowes Vaughan and Elsie Vaughan, he was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. He was educated at Repton School, where his house and headmaster was the future Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher.
Vaughan proceeded to Clare College, Cambridge, where he gained a Cambridge Blue in football for three consecutive years. He captained the University football team during this time. He made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Leicestershire in 1928. In this match, he was dismissed for 3 runs in the Cambridge first innings by Ewart Astill; he was not required to bat in their second innings. He played a second and final first-class match for the University in the same season, against Sussex, where he was dismissed for a duck by Arthur Gilligan in the University first innings. In their second innings, he scored 13 runs before being dismissed by Maurice Tate.
He made his debut for Berkshire in the 1928 Minor Counties Championship against Wiltshire. He appeared in three further matches for Berkshire in 1930, the last coming against Oxfordshire. He later joined Wiltshire in 1937, appearing again for the county in 1939 and after World War II, playing Minor counties cricket for Wiltshire until 1951 and making 16 appearances.
Outside cricket, Vaughan worked for Shell in Ceylon during the early 1930s. Returning from there, he took up farming in 1935, buying Middle Farm in Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire. He married to Blanche Innes Dickson in 1937, the couple having three children, their daughter Sarah Merion Vaughan being bestowed an OBE.
He served in World War II with the Royal Army Service Corps, obtaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 1940. He was later promoted to a full Lieutenant and in March 1941 to a Temporary Captain. The Service Corp was later attached to the 18th Infantry Division, arriving in Singapore three weeks before the Japanese invasion, which ended in a British surrender. He spent time following the surrender as a prisoner of war in Changi Prison, before being sent to work on the Burma Railway, working there for eight months. During his internment he came across his brother-in-law John Austin Dickson, and they helped each other through their captivity. His experiences during the war were rarely mentioned by him in later life.
Following the war, he resumed farming in Wiltshire. He also served as a J.P., and as Chairman of the local branches of the National Farmers Union and Conservative Party. He gave up farming in 1963 following a series of heart attacks, later dying in Woodborough, Wiltshire on 1 April 1966. His wife died 41 years later in 2007.


Pitkin Hatchery

The Pitkin Hatchery is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife cold water fish production facility located in Gunnison National Forest right off of Quartz Creek Valley in Gunnison County.
History.
Pitkin Hatchery was inaugurated in 1914. The land was purchased by Scott Land as a response to cold-water problems, such as limited stock in surrounding waters. The building was constructed in 1906 and built to hold a capacity of one million eggs per year. The elevation spans from 9033 ft - 9446 ft.
Mission.
An overarching mission among the hatchery staff is conservation through the production of the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, which is one of Colorado's native fish.
Fish species.
The facility focuses on broodstock and production of trout and kokanee salmon. Hatchery staff works to support the raising of 1 million fish annually, including 150,000 catchable rainbow trout. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are also raised as brood fish. Their source of water comes from a groundwater spring.


International Wind- and Watermill Museum

The International Wind- and Watermill Museum (), at Gifhorn in the German state of Lower Saxony, is the only one of its kind in Europe. On the museum's open-air site, which covers an area of around , there are currently 16 mills from 12 different countries (as at 2009). The mills are either original or faithful reproductions and are set in landscapes typical of their origins. Right across the site are historic artefacts associated with mills and the milling industry. The museum site is easily accessed by road; nearby is the intersection between the B 4 and B 188 federal highways. The museum is station 65 on the Lower Saxon Mill Road.
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Museum origins.
The history of the mill museum is closely linked to its founder and owner, Horst Wrobel. In 1965 he discovered an old post mill that was still working, on the Elm ridge at Abbenrode during an outing. Horst Wrobel made a replica of the mill at a scale of 1:25 and then collected all kinds of material about windmills and watermills. In 1974 he established a private museum in Suhlendorf with the first models of mills that he had built. In order to create a larger scale model, he first made overtures in 1977 to the district of Gifhorn, who then actively supported the project. In the same year the two parties concluded a leasehold agreement for the land of the future museum site.
From 1980 to today.
The mill museum opened its doors in 1980 following two years of extensive field engineering by the "Aller-Ohre-Verband". With the aid of bulldozers and flushing dredgers, the terrain was landscaped and numerous ditches and ponds created, as well as a 5 hectare mill lake. The lake also acts as a retention basin to prevent flooding to and to regulate the flow of the river Ise. The first structures to be built were the exhibition hall and three mills (The "Kellerholländer", the post mill ("Bockwindmühle") and the Tyrolean watermill).
Mill models.
The heart of the museum site is the 800 m² exhibition hall housing objects from mills and the milling industry. In addition, there are 49 miniature model windmills and watermills - detailed and accurate scale models of the originals - from 20 countries on display. They provide information about those processes that man made use of in employing wind and water power to carry out heavy work before the discovery of the steam engine.
Examples of the mill models:
The "Dorfplatz".
The centrepiece of the open-air museum is the village square or "Dorfplatz" with a collection of three timber-framed houses, which are arranged in the form of a Rundling village:
On the square is the "international mill tree". This is a pole, about 30 metres high, on which the state coats-of-arms of all the countries represented by the mills in the museum may be found, as well as wood carvings with milling motifs.
Mills.
"Sanssouci", a German smock mill.
A smock mill has stood on the "Dorfplatz" since 1984 which is based on the historic mill near the castle of Sanssouci in Potsdam. The 40 metre high original was built in 1788, burnt down in 1945 during the final clashes of the Second World War and was rebuilt in Potsdam in 1993. The mill near the royal residence became famous through a legend that its clattering disturbed Frederick the Great. When the king threatened it with compulsory purchase, the miller was referred to the "Kammergericht", or Supreme Court, in Berlin. The German name for this type of mill, "Galerieholländer" ("Dutch gallery mill"), refers to the circular gallery on the fourth story of the mill. The mill thus has enormous dimensions. Inside the "Sansoucci" mill at Gifhorn, the story of the mill museum is presented.
"Viktoria", a German post mill.
The "Viktoria" post mill comes from the nearby village of Osloß and may therefore be considered typical of the local area. In 1882 it was erected there by a miller who had bought the mill in Neuhaldensleben district. Its original year of construction is given on the mill as 1816. It closed in 1940 and fell into disrepair. The district of Gifhorn bought the dilapidated mill in 1977 and gave it into the charge of the museum owner, Horst Wrobel. It was restored with the help of donations and, in 1980, was rebuilt at the mill museum in working order.
The German term for this type of mill, "Bockwindmühle", refers to a mill in which the entire millhouse, stands on, or, more precisely, hangs from, a trestle or "Bock". The millhouse along with its equipment was turned into the wind before work was begun. According to the Prussian Civil Code of 1794, a "Bockwindmühle" was not counted as a building in its narrowest sense, but as a machine. That meant that the owner did not have to pay house interest tax ("Hauszinssteuer") for his workplace.
"Immanuel", a German tower mill.
This tower mill comes from Westdorf in the district of Dithmarschen, where it was built in 1848 under the name "Immanuel". It is one of the original three mills that was established at the museum. It is described in German as a "Bergholländer" ("Dutch hill mill") or "Kellerholländer" ("Dutch cellar mill"). These terms indicated that, in the former case that the mill was built on a small hill, and in the latter, that it had a cellar into which the horses and carts could be driven. During the course of its history the mill was modified many times and evolved into a highly technical mill including, "inter alia" an automatic wind rose. The sails could be adjusted to the wind speed. In 1969 the last miller offered to donate the mill in a newspaper advert on the condition that it was rebuilt. The newspaper publisher, Axel Springer, acquired the mill and had it restored. Later he donated it to the mill museum, where it was rebuilt in 1979.
Tyrolian watermill.
The roughly 300-year-old watermill from Iselsberg-Stronach near Lienz in the Tyrol is also one of the first three mills of the museum and was built here in 1979. It used to stand by a mountain stream in the Lesachtal valley in East Tyrol and is driven on the museum site by a pond. The mill, made of solid larch logs, has two overshot water wheels, that drive two milling gears.
"Rossmühle", a German horse mill.
The "Rossmühle" is probably the largest horse mill ("Pferdemühle") in Germany and comes from Hüllhorst-Oberbauerschaft in the district of Minden-Lübbecke. The original was built in 1797 and this replica erected in 1982. It is an octagonal timber-framed building. In the interior, horses walked around in a circle turning a wooden cogwheel with a power of one horsepower (PS) each. The cogwheel, with its 320 teeth and diameter of 32 metres, is the largest known of its type. It drove a stamping mill, used in the production of flax, and a corn mill.
"Mykonos", a Greek mill.
When the museum was expanded in 1987 a replica of a Greek windmill on the Cycladic island of Mykonos was constructed on an artificial island on the site. It is a white tower mill with a pointed roof and twelve sails.
"Natalka", a Ukrainian windmill.
The replica of a Ukrainian windmill, the "Natalka", was opened in 1988 in the presence of the consul general of the Soviet Union, an occasion intended to foster positive contacts with the former Communist state. The mill's prototype stands in Gifhorn's partner town of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi in Ukraine near Kiev, where it acts as a restaurant today under the name of "Vitrjak" ("windmill"). The mill has a base made of solid pine and spruce logs built in log cabin style. The long, narrow tower only houses a driveshaft. Like many Ukrainian structures, the windows, doors and exposed brickwork are richly decorated.
Hungarian Danube ship mill.
In 1989, after taking just one year to build, the Danube ship mill, "Julischka", went into operation on the Ise. It consists of two wooden boats between which a paddle wheel turns. In the larger hull is the mill gear and the miller's room. The smaller hull supports the axle of the paddle wheel which rotates in the river. The mill was built by:
With this type of mill the owner is both miller and ship's captain. He can search for the best water flow in the river. The ship mill has the disadvantage of being an obstacle to shipping so that, in the 19th century, regulations had to be introduced. In 1861 the construction of ship mills was banned on the River Rhine, consequently the last mill of this type disappeared in 1926. Such river mills have completely disappeared from today's rural scene, because they only have a life of about 50 years. They had been invented by as early as 536 during the siege of Rome by the Ostrogoths. Their heyday was during the 16th and 17th centuries.
"Algarve", a Portuguese windmill.
This replica mill was erected in 1993 next to the Greek mill and comes from Torres Vedras in central Portugal. It also represents the type of mill found on the Algarve coast. The mill, with its four triangular sails, is typical of Portugal and the Mediterranean area.
Balearic windmill from Majorca.
The corn mill, "Moli de Tramuntana" was built in 2000 based on the mills near Palma on the Balearic island of Majorca. Many such mills would be built in a row on elevated land. The round tower stands on a rectangular base, which was also the residence for the miller's family. The mill has six fabric covered sails with a diameter of about 20 metres. In the museum mill there is an exhibition in the basement of the "Mills of Majorca, Yesterday and Today". Representatives of the society, "Friends of the Mills of Majorca" came to the foundation stone ceremony.
Russian post mill.
This Russian farmer's windmill was built in Russia in 2001 and transported to Gifhorn by lorry. It is a replica of a typical Russian agricultural mill from the north Russian region around Archangelsk. The mill is a present from the "Andrej Rublijow Foundation" from Moscow, which is dedicated to the conservation of Russian architectural heritage.
Provençal windmill from France.
The "Alphonse Daudet" windmill was built in 2002 (photo: see above) as a replica. The prototype was built in 1813 in Fontvieille near Arles in French Provence. The poet, Alphonse Daudet (1840–1897), immortalised it in the 19th century in his book, "Letters From my Mill". In 1935 the "Society of the Friends of Alphonse Daudet" dedicated the mill as a museum and, in 1936, it appeared on a French postage stamp. This type of mill first appeared in the 12th century and is one of the oldest in France.
Korean watermill.
This Korean stamp mill appeared in 2003, the first Asian mill on the museum site. It is an overshot mill from a hill region in the province of Gangwon-do in South Korea. Hill farmers used this type of farm in the 19th century to grind corn. The Gifhorn mill was built in Korea using old traditional methods and Korean firs and birches and transported by ship to Germany, where three specialists from Korea erected it. It is a present from the Korean governor in whose district this type of mill was used.
Taiwanese water treadmill.
From the island of Taiwan comes this water treadmill, which was used to scoop water up and raise it to a higher level. This is the only mill of this type that exists in that country. This replica of a historic water treadmill is a loan from the vocational schools in the district of Gifhorn that have a school partnership arrangement with Taiwan.
Serbian watermill.
The old Serbian mill, "mudra Milica", is the latest and 15th mill in the mill museum. It was added in May 2005 and is around 100 years old. It is a vortex or horizontal water wheel ("Löffelradmühle") from western Serbia. This type of mill was the forerunner of the Pelton turbine. Its bucket water wheels were especially useful where there were small amounts of water and steep gradients. This type was used especially in mountain regions, like the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Carpathians. The mill was a present from the Serbian-Orthodox bishop Lavrentije of the diocese of Šabac-Valjevo to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the mill museum.
"Lady Devorgilla", a Scottish windmill.
The "Lady Devorgilla" mill is not located on the museum site itself, but within eyeshot of the museum on a lake on the edge of the town centre. It acts as a romantic backdrop for marriages and belongs to the town of Gifhorn. It is a replica of a Scottish windmill on Corbey Hill and dates to 1790. The original stands in Gifhorn's Scottish partner town of Dumfries.
The Russian stave church.
The 27-metre-high stave church on the museum site with its eight gilded domes is a replica of the wooden Russian Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The Muscovite patriarch, Alexy II, formerly head of 100 million Russian Orthodox Christians, opened it in 1995. In the church there is an exhibition with liturgical artefacts (icons, oil lamps, candlesticks, vestments, embroidery, fonts and bibles) from the Moscow patriarchate. There is an additional charge for visiting the interior of this impressive, cathedral-like building, decorated with iconic paintings. The original was built in 1765 as a Transfiguration of Christ Church ("Christi-Verklärungskirche") in the central Russian village of Kosljatjewo.


P. Ayngaranesan

Ponnudurai Ayngaranesan () is a Sri Lankan Tamil environmentalist, politician and former provincial minister.
Early life and family.
Ayngaranesan was born in 1958 and educated at Jaffna Hindu College and Madras Christian College.
Career.
Ayngaranesan was director of the Universal Science Centre in Kantharmadam. He is an environmentalist.
Ayngaranesan contested the 2013 provincial council election as one of the Tamil National Alliance's candidates in Jaffna District and was elected to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). After the election he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Environment. He took his oath as minister and provincial councillor in front of Chief Minister C. V. Vigneswaran at Veerasingam Hall on 11 October 2013.
Resignation.
Starting in late 2016, several charges of irregular practices were levelled against the four provincial ministers for Northern Province. Chief Minister Vigneswaran appointed a three-member committee consisting of retired judge S. Thiyakenthiran (chair), retired judge S. Paramarajah and retired District Secretary S. Patmanathan to investigate the charges. In June 2017 the NPC was plunged into chaos after Chief Minister Vigneswaran asked Ayngaranesan and fellow minister T. Kurukularajah to resign after the three-member committee found evidence to substantiate charges of corruption, abuse of power and misuse of funds levelled against the two ministers. Ayngaranesan had been accused of malpractice in connection with renovation of agricultural wells and other irrigation activities. Vigneswaran also requested that the two other ministers, B. Deniswaran and P. Sathiyalingam, who had been exonerated by the committee, to go on leave.
On 14 June 2017 a motion of no confidence against Vigneswaran was handed to Governor Reginald Cooray by several ITAK and opposition members of the NPC. This resulted in the Tamil People's Council, led by Vigneswaran, organising hartals across Northern Province in support of Vigneswaran. Ayngaranesan denied the charges but resigned as minister on 15 June 2017, submitting his resignation to Vigneswaran. He was succeeded by Vigneswaran as minister.
Following mediation by religious leaders a compromise was agreed between Vigneswaran and the ITAK/TNA leadership on 19 June 2017 whereby Vigneswaran would withdraw the request for Deniswaran and Sathiyalingam to go on leave and in return ITAK would withdraw the motion of no confidence against Vigneswaran.


Silesian Przesieka

Silesian "Przesieka", literally Silesian Cutting (, or , ) was a densely forested, uninhabited and unpassable strip of land in the middle of Silesia, spreading from Golden Mountains in the south, along the Nysa Kłodzka to the Odra, and then along the Stobrawa, reaching the towns of Namysłów and Byczyna in northern Silesia. Originally, the Silesian Cutting was a boundary, separating territories of two Western Slavic tribes, the Slezanie and the Opolanie. In the 12th century, along the Cutting a border of Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia was established.
For a long time, the Silesian Cutting was used as a natural military obstacle, protecting the area of Opole from raids of the Moravian and Czech tribes. However, it did not prevent the Hussites from invading Silesia in 1420 (see also Hussite Wars).
Structure.
The Silesian "Przesieka" was a wide, uninhabited border forest, strengthened on the inside by cut-down trees whose branches were twisted together, with thick bushes and sometimes ramparts and trenches from the 8th–9th century blocking movements from the west. Gates, which could be closed in dangerous times, controlled all roads leading outwards. The "Przesieka" was maintained by local Polish peasants and used in their self-defence. If a settlement expanded in size the fortifications were moved outwards. Placenames like Osiek, Ossig, Hag, Hänchen Przesieka, Lower Silesian Voivodeship or Przesieka, Podlaskie Voivodeship commemorated these unique natural circumstances.
Geographic distribution.
Starting at Namysłów and Byczyna, the main Lower Silesian "Przesieka" (Preseka) comprised the area of Kluczbork, today's woodland between the rivers Stobrawa and Mała Panew and ended at the Silesian Muschelkalk ridge. The fortification continued on the other side of the Oder at the Niemodlin woodland, incorporated the woods to the right of the Nysa Kłodzka and the Golden and Owl Mountains. From there the cutting turned northeast and incorporated the Sudetes, which separated Silesia and Bohemia, including the foothills on a distance of 80 kilometers. The "Przesieka" continued up to the Lower Silesian heathland, the border to Lusatia, a region which was especially well fortified by three trenches (German: Dreigräben) and a passage to the west of Szprotawa. From the Bóbr knee the Cutting incorporated the woodlands of Zielona Góra and eastwards the border forests between Silesia and Greater Poland. At the river Barycz the Cutting turned south to close the circle around Lower Silesia.
The distribution of the Upper Silesian border forests is relatively unknown. Only the western "Preseka" at Hrubý Jeseník and its foothills, the woodlands of the northern Carpathian Mountains and the Moravian Gate as well as at the woodlands of the Polish Jura are established. This enclosed area was divided into two chambers by a border zone. This inner "Przesieka" is in parts preserved until today, visible at the upper Malapane and between Rybnik and Pszczyna. Equally unknown in detail is the division of the Lower Silesian region, which was also partitioned into small chambers divided by strips of woodland.
Impact of German Ostsiedlung.
Town-like settlements already existed before the Ostsiedlung, as craftsmen and merchants formed suburbs of fortified strongholds ("burg(h)s", "castra"). Usually, Slavic marketplaces were set at an open range with few or no permanently inhabited buildings and, after Christianization, a church. Market fields ("ring", "rynek") were in close proximity to fortified strongholds. This system was borrowed from 10th century East Francia and persisted in the Slavic regions until the Ostsiedlung.
As the Silesian dukes initiated the German Ostsiedlung the border forests offered the chance to plan irrespective of older settlements. This approach was started by Henry I in the late 12th century, and soon other noble and clerical landlords competitively followed his example. The German settlers cleared the forests and thus destroyed the protective effect of the Preseka. To defend their now unprotected soil the Silesian dukes replaced the dissolving Preseka by a strip of villages, fortified towns and castles. The area became the center of the evolving society (Neustamm) of the German Silesians.


Clare Valley wine region

The Clare Valley wine region is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Horrocks Highway as the main thoroughfare.
Extent and appellation.
Clare Valley wine region covers an area adjoining the both sides of the Horrocks Highway as it passes through the town of Clare near its northern extent and the town of Auburn near its southern extent. The region is located at the northern end of the Mount Lofty Ranges zone with its southern extent being about north of the Adelaide city centre. The Clare Valley wine region was registered as an Australian Geographical Indication on 25 March 1999.
Soil and climate.
The wines are planted from . The climate is moderately continental, with cool to cold nights and warm to hot summer days. The higher altitude, compared to other wine regions in South Australia, ensures cool nights even during the heat of summer allowing the fruit to ripen more evenly and slowly. Rainfall is predominantly in winter – spring (June – September) with an annual average of around 630 mm. Summers are dry and make irrigation desirable but also ensure a minimum of fungal diseases. Varied soil types throughout the valleys are another feature, ranging from red to brown grey over basement rock.
Grape varieties.
The most important white variety is Riesling, with the Clare Valley regarded as its Australian home. Principal red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. They make a range of styles of varietal wines, reflecting different approaches to winemaking as well as the influences of the various sub-regions and micro-climates in the valleys. Many other lesser varieties are also grown, including Chardonnay, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Grenache. The Clare Valley Region contributes around 2% of the Australian national grape crush, but wins over 7% of all medals awarded for Australian wine.
As of 2014, the most common plantings in the Clare Valley wine region within a total planted area of was reported as being Shiraz () followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (), Riesling () and Merlot (). Alternatively, red wine varietals account for of plantings while white wines varietals account for of plantings. The 2014 vintage is reported as consisting of of red grapes crushed valued at A$14,235,653 and of white grapes crushed valued at $7,451,398.
Regional facts.
The region has more than 48 wineries, most of which are small and produce only bottled wine.
The Clare Valley Wine Region does not have any legally-defined subregions. It is sometimes informally divided into five subregions named for the towns in those growing areas: Auburn, Clare, Polish Hill River, Sevenhill and Watervale.
Population.
Town Populations:
As a rural region, there are also population pockets outside of the town centres (not shown here).
External links.


Asle Amundsen

Asle Amundsen (born 27 June 1952) is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party.
He served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Nordland during the term 1985–1989. He met during 32 days of parliamentary session. The first deputy of Hanna Kvanmo, he worked as a farmer in Andøy outside of politics.


Taylorville Station


Minho VR

Minho, formerly Rios do Minho, is a Portuguese wine region covering the same areas as the Vinho Verde DOC. The region is classified as a "Vinho Regional" (VR), a designation similar to a French "vin de pays" region. The wines of the Minho and Vinho Verde are nearly identical except for the Minho VR allowing foreign grape varieties to be used that are excluded from the "Denominação de Origem Controlada" (DOC) regulations for Vinho Verde.
Grapes.
The principal grapes of the Minho region include Alvarinho, Arinto, Avesso, Azal Branco, Azal Tinto, Batoca, Borracal, Brancelho, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Espadeiro, Loureiro, Merlot, Padreiro de Basto, Pedral, Rabo de Ovelha, Riesling, Trajadura and Vinhão.


Aalholm

Aalholm, also Aalholm Castle (), is a castle and country estate in Nysted in the municipality of Guldborgsund, on the south coast of the island of Lolland, Denmark. It is the oldest castle on the island, first mentioned in 1329. The main building was built in 1300–1585, with major rebuilding especially in 1768 and in 1889 under Hans Jørgen Holm and Gotfred Tvede. Inscriptions in the building show that it was originally completed in 1585.
History.
The castle was initially the seat of the king's vassal or "lensmand", and thus the centre of local government. It is not known when the castle was founded, but for historical reasons, it was probably around 1200. During this period, a number of royal castles were built across the country to strengthen the king's power in the regions and guard against attack. They include Koldinghus, Riberhus, Copenhagen Castle, Næsbyhoved Castle near Odense, Sønderborg and Nordborg on the island of Als, Tårnborg near Korsør, Nyborg, Gurre Castle and Søborg in the north of Zealand, Ravnsborg in northern Lolland and many more.
Aalholm was located on a very favorable site, standing on a little island in the inlet known as Nysted Nor. Completely surrounded by water, it was protected from the open sea although ships of all kinds could sail right up to the island, provided they had crews conversant with the channel to be followed. Not far to the north and west, there was fertile land where produce could be grown for the castle, with a surplus for the vassal and the king. Moreover, Nysted Nor was the only suitable site for a building of the kind between Nakskov in the south of Lolland and Stubbekøbing in the northeast of Falster.
The importance of the area at the time can also be appreciated from the fact that the Franciscan monastery in Nysted, built in 1286, was the only one on the islands, especially as the Franciscans always settled in thriving, populated areas where they could rely on the support of the inhabitants.
However, it is impossible to trace the early history of the castle as there are no written sources and any archaeological evidence is hidden beneath today's building. The castle has been built and rebuilt even since it was founded. The oldest part of the existing building is the north wing, thought to date from the 14th and 15th centuries. Thereafter, there is plenty of documentation on restoration and refurbishment, sometimes also revealing the poor state of the building. For example, in the 1550s, bricks from the Franciscan monastery were used to repair the castle while after the Swedish Wars of 1657-1660, the building had no windows and the towers no roofs. In the 18th century, parts of the south wing were demolished and the east wing was fully renovated. In 1889, a further section of the south wing was pulled down and two new lateral wings were added on the south side of the north wing. As a result, the once rectangular structure now took on a shape resembling a pair of spectacles. Since then there have been no significant changes to the castle's exterior.
In the 1970s, parts of the castle were opened to the public as a museum, while the former owner established a vintage car museum on Stubberup Farm about one kilometer to the west of the castle. In connection with the sale of the castle and estate in 1995, all the furnishings were auctioned off while the new owner took over the automobile museum. The museum was closed in 2008 owing to the poor state of the buildings. The cars were sold by RM Auctions on August 12, 2012, realizing sales of 10.2 million Euros.
Surroundings.
Early on, possibly from the outset, there was an access causeway from Søstræde and Slotsgade in Nysted. It traced an S-shaped course to the south of the castle, possibly all the way to the opposite bank where the castle's farm buildings once stood. Beside the south wing, there was a bridge to the dam. As time went by, groundfilling works were undertaken and in 1796 a small garden was added on the west side of the castle. In 1814 and during the 1830s, a large park-like facility was built in Hestehave Woods southwest of the farm. At some point, maybe in the 1890s, a walled garden with greenhouses and a water tower was added west of the castle.
To the north of the lake which formed after the dam was built there is now a road, No. 283 from Nysted to Sakskøbing and Rodby. It was built over rather swampy ground but it is unclear exactly when. Although it appears on a map from 1807, it is probably older. In connection with the change of ownership in 1889, the dam south of the castle was closed to the public and a new smaller dam was built on the north side in order to provide additional land. Part of the lake to the north of the new dam was drained and used for cattle. After the pumps were turned off in 2008, the area has once again become a shallow lake.
The king's vassals or "lensmænd".
The king's castles which were spread across the country were run by vassals who were responsible for defending the area and either had to provide the king with produce or lend him money in return for the revenues they received. In many cases, however, the vassals appointed a representative to run the castle and its district as they often owned farms elsewhere in the country and were also required to fight in the king's wars.
We know a number of Aalholm's vassals, many of them members of the Danish nobility. Later, some of them stemmed from Mecklenburg or Holstein, simply acting in as officials. In certain periods, the kings would allow their widowed mothers to enjoy the benefits of the castles, providing them with a pension.
Aalholm Amt.
After Frederik III's coup establishing an autocratic regime in Denmark, the feudal approach was abolished. Aalholm became an "amt" or county with an administration consisting of civil servants. These officers did not necessarily live at Aalholm. Some lived in their own homes, some in nearby Nykøbing. In the 65 years from 1660 to 1725 when the estate was sold to Emerentia von Levetzow, the castle often lay empty.


Werdauer-Greiz Forest

The Werdauer-Greizer forest, also known as the Greiz-Werdauer forest or the Werdauer forest, is the conservation forests around Greiz and Werdau and is one of the largest closed forest areas in Western Saxony and eastern Thuringia.
Location.
The 62 km² large forested area extends mainly between the valley of the Pleiße and the White Elster. On its northern edge in Thuringia flows the Krebsbach.
The northern spur forms the forest area near the village Trünzig.
West of Greiz the Quirlbach forms a section of the conservation boundary. In the west, the forest area extends beyond the edge of the Elster Valley and ends southeast of the village Daßlitz. The northeastern tip of Werdau with the headwaters of the north adjacent Meiselbach goes into the Leubnitzer Waldsiedlung whose undeveloped area before 1945 still belonged to the Trünzig state forest.
The forest borders the city of Werdau (Saxony) to the northeast and Greiz (Thuringia) to the southwest. In the middle of the forest there is a clearing, where the settlement Waldhaus is located.
The common border of the states of Saxony and Thuringia runs from Teichwolframsdorf going in a north-south direction along a road in the direction of Reudnitz through the forest.
Conservation area.
The former Gera district created a conservation area in the Thuringian part of the forest in 1961. The Werdauer forest on the Saxon side was declared a conservation in 1968 by the administration of the former Karl-Marx-Stadt district.


Lilienfelderhof

Domaene Lilienfeld - Lilienfelderhof - is one of the oldest wine estates in Central Europe. Situated in Pfaffstätten, 30 km south of Vienna, Austria, it traces its history to an endowment made by the Babenberger Leopold VI, Duke of Austria (“the Glorious”) to the Cistercian monks at Lilienfeld Abbey in 1202, though the buildings as such (as opposed to the endowment) are traditionally dated to 1209. In 2006 Domaene Lilienfeld (Lilienfelderhof) was acquired by the Hildebrand Private Foundation, on the basis of a 99-year leasehold (Baurecht). The foundation is currently in the process of restoring and revitalising both the numerous buildings and 20 hectares (ca. 50 acres) of vineyards.
History.
Agricultural and economic activities carried out by the Cistercian religious order in distinct locations from the mother monastery were concentrated around so-called “granges” (monastic grange)—enclosed estates housing a church, manor house, additional residences, a well, buildings for agricultural and economic activities, a mill, frequently fish ponds, and sometimes a tavern. Here monks (priests, but primarily lay-brothers), together with non-religious stewards, managed the abbey's affairs in the region, primarily agriculture and viticulture.
Thus Domaene Lilienfeld is home to a gothic church seating around 100 persons (“St. John the Baptist Chapel”), a manor house, a wine tavern (i.e. a traditional Austrian “Heurige”, currently under renovation), and an array of other buildings.
Probably on account of its ecclesiastical owners, Domaene Lilienfeld (Lilienfelderhof) has played an important role in private and public life in Pfaffstätten and the Thermenregion. During the Russian occupation of parts of Austria following WWII (see: Allied-administered Austria) starving people were fed from a secret kitchen inside the estate. During the same era a Cistercian monk from the estate survived being shot by a Russian soldier while defending a woman from attack. Many other people have at some time worked or lived on the estate or attended kindergarten there, since for some years the local kindergarten was housed in the estate’s manor house.
It is of historical interest to note that, until its suppression in 1782, the Kartause Gaming (Gaming Charterhouse) (now 99-year leaseholder of Domaene Lilienfeld / Lilienfelderhof through the Kartause Gaming Private Foundation) itself owned extensive vineyards in and around Pfaffstätten. Indeed, so strong was the presence of many of the great Austrian monasteries (e.g. Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Klosterneuburg Monastery, Melk Abbey, Schottenstift, in addition to the Kartause Gaming, Kartause Mauerbach, Lilienfeld Abbey, as well as the German Order / Teutonic Knights and the Augustinians) that a town was named after them, i.e.“Pfaffstätten”, literally the “city of the “Pfaffen”—“Pfaffen” being a colloquial term for clerics.
Winemaking.
Grape varieties from the extended Burgundian family have traditionally flourished in the gentle warmth of the Thermenregion (it was most likely Cistercian monks in the Thermenregion who originally introduced the Pinot noir grape to Austria from the Order’s motherhouse in Burgundy) and the contemporary revitalisation of Domaene Lilienfeld / Lilienfelder Hof foresees a viticultural focus on these varieties, complemented by the autochthonous Rotgipfler.
Currently vineyards belonging to Domaene Lilienfeld are planted with Rotgipfler (a cross between Traminer, a parent of the Burgundian Pinot noir, and the Austrian Roter Veltliner), Weissburgunder (a.k.a. “Pinot blanc”, a mutation of the Burgundian Pinot gris), Zweigelt (a cross between St. Laurent, related to Pinot noir, and Blaufränkisch), as well as Zierfandler, Riesling, Welschriesling, and Neuburger. Most vineyards are south-facing.
The arrival of the Cistercian monks in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was, relative to the remarkable antiquity of the region’s viticulture, a recent development. Roman legionnaires stationed in Carnuntum and Vindobona 2,000 years ago encountered an intact tradition of winemaking to the south of Vienna, which they subsequently improved through the introduction of superior Italian grape varieties.
External links.
Lilienfelderhof / Domaene Lilienfeld:


Hook Bill

The Hook Bill or Dutch Hookbill ( or ) is a breed of domestic duck characterised by an unusual down-curved beak. It is an ancient breed, and has been documented since the seventeenth century. Speculation that it originated in Asia, or is related to the Indian Runner, is apparently unsubstantiated.
History.
The origins of the Hook Bill are unknown. The earliest published illustration and description appear to be those in the "Ornithologiæ Libri Tres" of Francis Willughby, published in 1676. Willughby's book is in Latin; when it was re-published by John Ray in English in 1678, the description of the Hook-billed Duck was:
Around 100 years ago there were many as duck eggs were more sold than chicken eggs, but now its worldwide population in captivity is estimated to be no more than 800 individual egg-laying females. It is now considered an endangered duck breed.
Some were taken to the United States in 2000; the breed is not among those listed in the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association.
In 2007 the conservation status of the Hook Bill was listed by the FAO as "endangered" at European level. In 2020 it was reported to DAD-IS as "at risk", while the Dutch classified it as "critical", as did the Livestock Conservancy in the United States. It was not on the rare breed watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the United Kingdom.
Characteristics.
The Hook Bill is a light duck, with an average weight of approximately Three colour variants are recognised in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom: the dusky mallard has a black head and rump with green lustre, the body in shades of grey with no white neck-ring, and a slate-grey beak; the white-bibbed dusky mallard is similarly coloured, but with a distinct white chest-bib and white-tipped wing primaries; the white has pure white plumage, blue eyes, bright orange legs and a flesh-pink bill. A further seventeen colours are listed for Germany by the Entente Européenne, but are not accepted in the European standard.
Use.
The Hook Bill may be kept for ornament or for exhibition, but is also a good layer: ducks may give between 100 and 225 white or greenish-blue eggs per year.