Question

Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture is written by

• A. Charles C. Harrison
• B. Edgar F. Smith
• C. Josiah H. Penniman
• D. J. Russel Smith

Hint:

Recall the geographer-economist who promoted tree-based farming as an alternative to row crops.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks about the author of a classic book on agroforestry and land use, "Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture."

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Recall the background of the book. It was published in 1929 and is treated as a founding text in agroforestry, arguing that tree crops, such as nuts and fruit trees, could replace annual grain crops on sloping, erosion-prone land to give a more permanent, soil-conserving form of agriculture.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Charles C. Harrison, Edgar F. Smith and Josiah H. Penniman were all historical figures linked with the University of Pennsylvania, Harrison and Penniman served as provosts there, and Edgar Smith was a chemist who later became provost, but none of them wrote this agriculture text.
The actual author, J. Russell Smith, was a geographer and economist at Columbia University who wrote "Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture" to promote tree-based farming systems as a lasting alternative to soil-depleting row-crop agriculture, especially on hilly land prone to erosion. His ideas went on to shape the modern practice of agroforestry.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The book was written by J. Russell Smith, so option 4 is correct.