tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post6767216723749223931..comments2024-03-28T02:46:03.227-04:00Comments on The Historical Society: Peppermint and HistoryRandallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-35241357615928733712011-04-27T04:57:15.972-04:002011-04-27T04:57:15.972-04:00This is fascinating, Dan. I'm looking forward...This is fascinating, Dan. I'm looking forward to reading your work. The peppermint taking over my garden, genetically modified or otherwise, certainly needs constant minding to keep it from colonizing the entire front yard. <br /><br />And while I am familiar with the ways humans have modified plants like maize over thousands of years, the intensive transformation you're discussing here is a real eye opener.Lisa Clark Dillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155783885263417225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-12764841835326520702011-04-26T16:38:52.947-04:002011-04-26T16:38:52.947-04:00I agree. There does seem to be a divide between t...I agree. There does seem to be a divide between the regular monographic history scholars write and the sort of natural history topics taken on by Alfred Crosby and in a much larger sense, Jared Diamond.Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7872819010848426693.post-64689551859806993432011-04-26T09:35:43.565-04:002011-04-26T09:35:43.565-04:00Dan: I'm a sucker for natural history and for ...Dan: I'm a sucker for natural history and for science, so I find this fascinating. We really don't talk enough about the natural world in history. Certainly the role of disease among plants-- like your mint wilt-- has changed human society. Sometimes it's been dramatic, like the potato blight, sometimes less so, like the fungus that wiped out the French vineyards, turning the wine industry toward America. <br /><br />And I had never thought of GMOs as part of a longer trend. More food for thought. (Sorry. Couldn't resist).hcrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07334093881332383848noreply@blogger.com