Excerpt from Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1903 The tendency of the Yearbook to increase in size, following very naturally the growth of the Department whose work it deals with, led to the production for several years of a book of inconvenient dimeh sions, and threatened, unless a different system were pursued in its preparation, very soon to make a most unwieldy volume. An earnest effort had to be made, and a change was therefore inaugurated in the preparation of the present volume, with a view to reducing its bulk. The result has been to reduce it by about 5200 pages; while the tendency to conservatism in the matter of illustrations, which for the past year or two has characterized all the publication work of the Department, has caused a reduction in the number of plates from 87 in the Year book for 1902 to 65 in the present volume. It has been impossible, of course, to effect such a marked reduction without in some measure restricting the number of articles contributed. The number in this volume, while still considerably above the average since the Yearbook was established, is 32, as against 37 last year and 33 in the Yearbook for 1901. The authors are, however, to be con gratulated upon having more nearly than ever before approached the standard of brevity which it has been sought to establish in connection with Yearbook articles, and the average length is but a fraction over 12 pages. Readers who have been in the habit of consulting the Appendix will find there also evidence of this restrictive policy in the elimination of some features to which they have become accustomed. It is believed, however, that the most important information presented in this part of the Yearbook for permanent preservation has been retained. At a risk of repetition, it must be again stated for the information of those who desire to possess a copy of the work, that the quota assigned to the Department's use is barely su cient to supply its own active coworkers, and the great majority of people desiring to secure a copy must, therefore, depend upon their Senators, Representatives. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

In the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple, Felix and Oscar argue over a racing greyhound that Oscar won in a bet. Animal lover Felix wants to keep the dog as a pet; gambling enthusiast Oscar wants to race it. This dilemma fairly reflects America's attitude toward greyhound racing. This book, the first cultural history of greyhound racing in America, charts the sport's meteoric rise-and equally meteoric decline-against the backdrop of changes in American culture during the last century. Gwyneth Anne Thayer takes us from its origins in "coursing" in England, through its postwar heyday, and up to its current state of near-extinction. Her entertaining account offers fresh insight into the development of American sport and leisure, the rise of animal advocacy, and the unique place that dogs hold in American life. Thayer describes greyhound racing's dynamic growth in the 1920s in places like Saint Louis, Chicago, and New Orleans, then explores its phenomenal popularity in Florida, where promoters exploited its remote association with the upper class and helped foster a celebrity culture around it. By the end of the century media reports of alleged animal cruelty had surfaced as well as competition from other gaming pursuits such as state lotteries and Indian casinos. Greyhound racing became so suspect that even Homer Simpson derided it. In exploring the socioeconomic, political, and ideological factors that fueled the rise and fall of dog racing in America, Thayer has consulted participants and critics alike in order to present both sides of a contentious debate. She examines not only the impact of animal protectionists, but also suspected underworld ties, longstanding tensions between dogmen and track owners over racing contracts, and the evolving relationship between consumerism and dogs. She captures the sport's glory days in dozens of photographs that recall its coursing past or show celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Babe Ruth with winning racing hounds. Thayer also records the growth of the adoption movement that rescues ex-racers from possible euthanasia. Today there are fewer than half as many greyhound tracks, in half as many states, as there were 10 years ago-and half of them are in Florida. Thayer's in-depth, meticulously balanced account is an intriguing look at this singular activity and will teach readers as much about American cultural behavior as about racing greyhounds.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1981.

Excerpt from Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1918 The efforts put forth by the farmers and the agricultural organizations to secure increased production can perhaps best be concretely indicated in terms of planting operations. The size of the harvest may not be the measure of the labors of the farmers. Adverse weather conditions and unusual ravages of insects or plant diseases may partly overcome and neutralize the most exceptional exertions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.