Diary 1963 - Murshid Sam's Living Stream

Diaries 1963-3Roy Donahue. I was his guest in India anal purchased his book on Indian agriculture which I findone of the best publications. I now have his textbook on “Soils” written earlier. It is more elementaryand less practical, but it does contain some excellent “fine print.” I think I’ll give it to Harry Nelsonafter reading and ask for a session say during Christmas Vacation or at his convenience to discussthis “fine print.” It is in regards to Soil Microbiology, Nitrofixation, Nitrofying Algae, Commensalism,etc.Reading on special crops covering the “xerophytic” lands from India to Morocco I find specificmethod used at experimental stations or by farmers which are not always in books on “Soils.” This ismore important because Terry Duce, referred to above, brought this out. I have already mentioned toHarry about Cacti, etc. but not followed it up. In Egypt the Cacti are grown—and miserably—in theirrigation ditches.Humza. I recently met one Renee Taylor who has been there and has become a professionallecturer and also “food faddist.” My objection is that organic gardening succeeds in a different mannerwhen either snow-water is used, or you have volcanic soils. I am already in close touch with acousin of the Mir who wishes me to go there on my return to Pakistan. But Pakistan is a complexcountry which has no basic soil analyses and exceedingly diverse and quite un-coordinated methodsof procedure.Program Would be to see if AFME either alone or in cooperation with the Ford or RockefellerFoundations would launch the program which each of its Directors has now publicly announcedand see if you could fit into it. Of course I have not yet motioned your name but have definitelytoted that California has the topmost soil exports equipped to handle desert, salinity and relatedproblems.Water Program. At the moment I am against the Interior Department and favor the approach ofCongressman John Baldwin. This would mean putting money into salt-water conversion instead ofinland engineering projects for diversion.Kervan is a French scientist who has written on “Biological Transmutations.” I copied hismanuscript and will send it to you shortly for keeps. Made a carbon for Thunen but have not given itto him. There should be things to interest you. He has written now several books, in French.Indio C. of C. They placed before me a project to got one of the Temples from the Nile and Itold them I might try to contact the wealthy organization who would be interested. Now they wereall here—at least $50,000,000 was represented at the meetings here and as they have not answeredmy letters, we’ll drop it. But if we can get the persons and the industrialists concerned with the ArabWorld into a practical project, maybe you would be interested in getting out of Indio.