Beard provides a detailed chronicle of the evolution and history of turfgrass.

New book by Dr. James Beard now available

The true heritage of turfgrass science and culture is best represented by an extensive historical record encompassing the principles, cultural practices, grasses, materials, and equipment that have been developed over the course of 300 years by turfgrass scientists, private companies, professional turfgrass managers, and amateur practitioners.

Beard provides a detailed chronicle of the evolution and history of turfgrass. The book documents the use of turfgrass worldwide as reflected in early publications and photographs and explores the development of its science and culture.

In Beard’s compilation, resumes of book authors characterize their historical activities and contributions to the turfgrass field, providing an extensive bibliography of turfgrass texts, research development, and educational programs via reviews, scientific journals, research reports, and trade publications.

Selected quotes and unique original photographs depict early activities, equipment, and conditions and their evolution in the turfgrass field.

The extensive material in this book is drawn primarily from the comprehensive James B Beard Turfgrass Collection donated to the Michigan State University Turfgrass Information Center in 2003. The holdings at this library represent the most extensive collection of turfgrass-related publications available today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. James B Beard is the world’s leading authority on turfgrasses and turfgrass science. He spent most of his career in academia, first at Michigan State University, then at Texas A&M University, where he is currently professor emeritus of turfgrass science. He has pioneered investigations concerning turfgrass and the ecology of grass, and has published widely and lectured both throughout North America and internationally. Currently, he guides turfgrass research and education pro-grams, especially internationally, while also instructing in turfgrass education through seminars, papers, manuals, and books. He has also served on many national committees.

Dr. Beard holds four degrees, has written and published prolifically, including more than 700 scientific papers and technical articles, as well as numerous books.

He has lectured widely throughout North America and abroad, and has served as a technical advisor to turfgrass organizations in more than a dozen countries. Dr. Beard has been the recipient of the Turfgrass Science Award and the Crop Science Research Award of the Crop Science Society of America. He was the first president of the International Turfgrass Society. He has been elected to the Board of Directors of CSSA, ASA, CAST, and ITS; and honored as a Fellow of CSSA, ASA, and AAAS.

Dr. Beard and Harriet J. Beard, his wife and long-time collaborator, have written numerous books and jointly received the Oberly Award of the American Library Association. Dr. Beard currently serves as President and Chief Scientist at the International Sports Turf Institute.

ISBN: 9781611861037 ISBN-10: 1611861039 Publisher: Michigan State University Press

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