Small Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small Business - Essay Example The major advantages are that a franchisee is able to establish and operate a well established business in a new area where the whole marketing system inputs and guidelines are provided by the franchisor on a continuous basis. The franchisee is able to start business with a relatively small initial investment that has prospects of good return with immediate effects. The recurrent training and proven marketing strategies provided by the franchisor boost the confidence of the franchisee and help him to expand his business significantly. The main limitations are the loss of independence in running the business as one wants and restriction in the operational area comprising mainly of the goods and services that can be sold in specific areas. Other conditions like the restrictions on resale of franchisee rights and the individual advertising efforts are hurdles that restrict further scope for the franchisee. The main advantages of franchisor are that they are able to expand their business and spread them in wider areas of operation in a relatively short time and with reduced capital cost. By facilitating goods and services to the franchisee, the franchisor is relieved of the pressures of day today operation and therefore is better able to focus on his core business and developing network activities and franchisee support programs and strategies. The major aspect is that he is able to control the appearance and operation of the franchisee outlets as per his standards, thereby help maintain the credibility and high standard of his brands. The limitations of the potential franchisor are that it needs to keep updated with the training and strategies for its franchisee to meet the emerging challenges of the advancing technologies. Though the profit margins are considerably reduced but the widening network of franchisee, selected judiciously, help increase the overall profit with considerably less stress. Another major limitation is that expanding in foreign

Art Blog Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Art Blog - Assignment Example Galleries open here and there, and museums feature exhibits that are not to be missed. Yet that visit to a community garden opened me to a whole new world of the art scene. Of course the Museum of Contemporary Art, the L.A. County Art Museum, and the Getty Center house several of the best pieces of art in the world. But ever since a community garden opened my eye to something new about art, I have been keener to observe those Chinatown galleries that feature up-and-coming artists that houses a more â€Å"homely† type of art. I have been more appreciative of the unpretentious airs in several of these galleries like Kathryn Brennans, Tom Solomans, and China Art Objects. What that little community garden did to my art perspective was huge. Since then, I never have to look far to see art in my surroundings. I can see it in simple places and things. In the community garden, I never thought the day would come where I would be looking at garden plots as works of art. Yes, they may no t be technically pieces of art, but works of art they are. There is no such thing as being too radical or being too conventional in art. Now I know there are no rules. Art is when it moves you even when you do not know why. Aside from being appreciative of art, I also love books. What moved me the most in the Getty Center is its collection of books within the Getty Research Institute and the vast collection of pictures of different architectures. Additionally, I also find it fascinating to stare at the illuminated manuscripts and glimmering decorative arts and furniture. I agree with Natalie that the museums programs and activities for kids and families are a joy to behold. I visited the place a few times, and I must state that for adults who do not have any kids in tow, it is worthwhile to catch the nighttime view of the place. I am all for self-expression. Sadly, the street art scene in Los Angeles is something

International Relations Major In Diplomacy Politics Essay

International Relations Major In Diplomacy Politics Essay The Ph.D. in International Relations allows students to specialize in a specific domain of knowledge while gaining the recognition that is instrumental to pursue advanced careers in academics, think tanks, international organizations, or government research. A unique aspect of the Ph.D. program  is the very close guidance provided to students  throughout the dissertation process. The program takes full advantage of its location  and it offers access to countless libraries, archives and special collections, and provides an excellent venue for  conducting  interviews with diplomats and members of  government institutions,  inter-governmental organizations and NGOs. Curriculum International Relations Ph.D. candidates must successfully complete: Seven required courses Three  elective courses, including one area courses The international relations curriculum has a multi-disciplinary scope. Required courses cover the disciplines of international relations, political science, economics, international law, international organizations and diplomacy. The choice of electives is made in accordance with the domain in which the candidate wishes to pursue his or her research. Ph.D. candidates may take internships as part of their curriculum in order to develop a network of useful contacts and in order to combine hands-on experience with the scholarly work involved in the Ph.D. program. PhD International Relations Major in Diplomacy Required Courses Core Units Factors and Theories of Analysis in International Relations and Diplomacy Research Methodology and Design Foreign Policy Formulation and Diplomacy International Public Law Current Economic Problems and Policies International Organizations Current Issues in International Relations Elective Courses of Diplomacy Beginnings of the Contemporary Political Order Comparative Politics Anthropology and Politics Post-Modernity and International Relations and Diplomacy Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy COURSE DESCRIPTION CORE UNITS Factors and Theories of Analysis in International Relations and Diplomacy In an international political environment that is swarming with a plethora of events that we read in the day to day news, how can we make sense of it all in a systematic and informed manner, in a way that is theoretical, practical and in a manner that goes beyond the political talk? How can we find trends, patterns and generalizations for events occurring today, with those that occurred in the past and those that we are likely to see in the future? This course emphasizes the role of theory in the study of issues of international relations. Exploring a range of theoretical underpinnings to deepen our understanding of international relations, this course in theories and factors of IR and diplomacy helps us to achieve a greater understanding of the world and the diversity of its cultures with the use of theory. Knowledge of theories of international politics prepares students for understanding the world in a systematic manner, a world made smaller by the steady increase of international contact in society, politics, and business and allows students to acquire knowledge and tools that enable them to analyze and understand the complex world in which we live. Research Methodology and Design This is an introductory course in research methods and design for students of political science, international relations. Students do not need any previous knowledge of social science methodology, but they should already have some substantive political knowledge, and an interest in conducting original research. The aim of this course is to teach students how to gather quantitative and qualitative evidence through the use of established social science research methods and how to analyze that data logically. Starting with a brief introduction to the elementary principles of the scientific method, you will learn how to generate original quantitative data through doing an actual scientific public opinion poll with a probabilistic simple random sample. Then you will be trained in some widely used qualitative data-gathering techniques, including research using published and archival documentation, as well as field research techniques of observation and interview. This phase will include a mandatory field trip to the national library. Once the data-gathering phase is complete, you will learn the basic tools of data analysis: i.e. establishing relationships, testing hypotheses, and developing valid theoretical explanations. Foreign Policy Formulation and Diplomacy To understand Foreign Policy Formulation this Practitioners seminar takes you inside the black box of statecraft in order to study the goals, beliefs, and perceptions of decision-makers. Contemporary diplomacy as a norm-based activity and mindset provides an array of tools for preventive, persuasive and coercive crisis management for enduring stability and globalized security. These operational procedures of thinking and acting diplomatically including pre-crisis diplomatic communication enable us to deal with global and regional disruptive shock events. In the practice of International Relations there is interdependency between diplomacy as the procedural tool-box for the application and execution of policy decisions and International Law as the behavioral guidelines for international policy-making. International Law serves as the language for diplomacy to justify policy decisions. Course objectives: To develop an understanding of the techniques and tactics of diplomacy and international law To become familiar with the role of foreign ministries and embassies To identify the present trends of modern diplomacy, with emphasis on the role of the United Nations To equip students for careers in international affairs International Public Law The knowledge of basic legal concepts is essential for anyone working in or studying the field of international relations and diplomacy. The student will learn about the creation of International Public Law through treaties, customs and general principles. Particular importance will be given to the formation of these sources, showing how treaties are negotiated and illustrating some of the problems that written agreements can present, as well as the questions of equity and the impact and significance of unilateral acts on IPL. States will be studied on many levels, including defining the term state, identifying its attributes and determining how its responsibility can be engaged. Other actors such as international organizations will also be considered, and individuals as subjects and not only objects of IPL. Finally, methods of resolving international conflict will be analyzed from simple informal negotiations to the use of the international court system. The possibility, legality an d desirability of non-peaceful methods will also be discussed. Current Economic Problems and Policies The aim of this course is to equip future policy makers with the basic analytical tools of macroeconomics, and prepare them to assess some of the economic issues they will encounter in this area. Hence, building on the knowledge already acquired by the students, this course will focus on open-economy macroeconomics, with special emphasis on the recent business cycle, current global imbalances, and the exchange rate of the dollar. International Organizations International organizations have joined the list of the most important actors in global affairs. The course distinguishes two types of international organizations: intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and seeks to understand their past and present function in contemporary societies and international relations, focusing on IGOs and the UN in particular. The course also seeks to analyze information to examine plausible scenarios of the future role of IGOs and NGOs. Lectures address issues such as: the importance of IGOs and NGOs as actors in international relations; the administrative and financial structures of IGOs and NGOs; their political and social ramifications; their communication strategies and the role of public opinion in their creation, maintenance and growth; whether IGOs such as the League of Nations or the United Nations have been efficient in accomplishing the goals for which they were founded; what can an IGO or an NGO specific ally accomplish in international relations to advance peace, prosperity and to improve the livelihoods of populations; should IGOs and NGOs have so much power and since few of their administrations are elected democratically, is it in the interests of the state and of the public to limit their power. Current Issues in International Relations The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the diversity of contemporary issues in international relations, with a particular focus on the relationship between regional and global issues. The course will provide an overview of the dynamics of the international system, looking at the major features of the current world order. Underlying processes will be described, with an emphasis on three vital areas: the changing relationship between national governments and their peoples; global capitalism and global markets; and the conduct of global international relationships. The course will also consider a number of contemporary regional case-studies in order to obtain a more precise vision of the political situation of these areas. This will allow students to have a comprehensive overview of the international situation, with a particular focus on the changes which have taken place over the past twenty years. ELECTIVE UNITS FOR MAJOR IN DIPLOMACY Beginnings of the Contemporary Political Order The course is designed to provide necessary understanding of modern political institutions and the ideas that govern them, such as modern conceptions of democracy, human rights, the free market economy, rule of law and universal suffrage. Topical considerations will be explored in light of current events on the international scene. Post-Modernity and International Relations and Diplomacy This seminar is designed to familiarize students with periodization in political history, and particularly with the ideas and concepts related to the notion of post-modernity. The bulk of the seminar is an interdisciplinary exploration of economic, human, cultural and political dimensions of post-modernity. This interdisciplinary approach is necessitated by the simple fact that post-modernity is a multi-faceted phenomenon that defies a neat, clear-cut definition. The seminar will center on various socio-political and economic developments in the world since the fall of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Particular attention will be paid to the concept of post-modernism developed by authors such as Kojev, Fukuyama, Baudrillard, Lyotard and the theorys relation to knowledge, politics and communication. Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy This course offers the student the opportunity to examine the concepts and theories used by scholars to make sense of past events, interpret and analyse contemporary issues and predict future developments in American foreign policy. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the tools to understand both the how and the why of U.S. foreign policy decision-making. The course covers: the principles and concepts of US foreign policy; sources of American foreign policy; the process, politics and structure of US foreign policy making; past and present foreign policies and possible directions for the future; and competing interpretations of American foreign policy. The making of US foreign policy is a complex process, and the decisions made have tangible and intangible consequences on the lives of Americans and people all over the world. Among other related topics, this course discusses the history, context, politics, structures (Presidency, Congress, Legislative, Executive, Jud iciary, Military, Intelligence, Media, Public Opinion, and Society) and processes that lead to the formulation and implementation of United States foreign policy.

Rasputin: The Man, The Mystery Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin is known as the Siberian Mystic Healer, whose life has been retold numerous of times and almost each time it is told it is retold in a different way. Since Rasputin lived in a civilization not that advanced, little is know of his first forty years of life. So most information on the man are normally from stories families have passed on. Some say he is a holy monk with great powers, on the other hand he may be known as a phony with a false connection to God. The Beginning Rasputin was born between 1864 and 1865 in his own home of Pokrovskoe. It is now known as Tiumen’ Oblast. It is located in Siberia on the Toura River. This was a small city located near the Ural Mountains. At the center of the village stood a large white church with a guilded dome, which was a symbol of Russia’s strong religious background. At the age of eighteen Rasputin went through a religious transition. He eventually went to the monastery at Verkhoture. At this place he became aquatinted to the Khlysty sect. After spending some time at this monastery he did not become a monk. When he came to this monastery he had no intentions of becoming a monk. But this even eventually leads to fame and power for Rasputin. At the age of nineteen, Rasputin returned to his home in Pokrovskoe. There he fell in love and married Praskovia Fyodorovna. Together the two had three children. They had Dimitri in 1897, Maria in 1898, and Varvara in 1900. Marriage wasn’t enough to keep Rasputin in one place. He continued to wander to places of religious significance suck as Mt. Athos, Greece, and Jerusalem. He was a self-proclaimed holy man. He had the power to heal the sick and the power to predict the future. His fame grew greatly. Soon people traveled from long distances in search of his well heard about abilities and insight. For Rasputin’s help, people would repay him with food, presents, and money. Rasputin has had no long period of religious or spiritual training. He also had very limited education so he was left illiterate. This made his theatrical abilities become very useful. One day while Rasputin was plowing in the fields he had a revelation. The story states that a Heavenly Mother touched him. She told him of young Aleksei, the tsarevich and she instructed him to appear at the boy’s side to stop his bleeding. His bleeding was a result of his hemophilia. ... ...sants, you, Tsar of Russia, have nothing to fear, remain on your throne and govern, and you, Russian Tsar, will have nothing to fear for your children, they will reign for hundreds of years in Russia. But if I am murdered by boyars, nobles, and if they shed my blood, their hands will remain soiled with my blood, for twenty-five years they will not wash their hands from my blood. They will leave Russia. Brothers will kill brothers, and they will kill each other and hate each other, and for twenty-five years there will be no noblers in the country. Tsar of the land of Russia, if you hear the sound of the bell which will tell you that Grigory has been killed, you must know this: if it was your relations who have wrought my death then no one of your family, that is to say, none of your children or relations will remain alive for more than two years. They will be killed by the Russian people...I shall be killed. I am no longer among the living. Pray, pray, be strong, think of your ble ssed family. This letter was written to Tsarina Alexandra on December 7, 1916. Twenty-three days later Rasputin was killed and nineteen months later after Rasputins death the Tsar and his family lay dead.

Understand The Role Of Communication And Interactions With Individuals Who Have Dementia

People who have dementia can communicate in different ways depending on how they feel and the type of dementia someone has. If an individual has dementia they might not be able to speak so as a career it’s important to read the body language of the individual. If they make funny noises or they are acting out of character or if they are being very loud then this may mean they are not happy and that they are angry. If they are lively and smiling and laughing then this may mean that they are happy and is feeling in a good mood.If the individual suddenly gets up from his/her arm chair and walks around then if may mean that they need to go to the toilet. If an individual who has dementia can talk then you can usually know how they are feeling through their tone of voice. If the tone of voice is sharp and clear then it might mean that they are upset or cross, if they are very quiet and talking softly then it might be scared and feeling very lonely.It is very easy to misinterpret som eone who has dementia. For example, If a lady or gentleman gets up from the chair and walks to the other side of the room, careers may think that he/she just wants to walk around to stretch his/her legs but in fact he/she needs to go to the toilet. Another example would be if a gentlemen is shouting for no apparent reason it might be because he is in pain but doesn’t know how to tell someone, a career might not realise this and may this he wants something instead. Also another example would be if a lady is asked if they would like something and they said no but actually they mean yes they would, careers wouldn’t realise what she means and ends up not giving her anything.There are different types of dementia which may affect the way someone will communicate. Dementia will affect an individual’s communication depending of what part of the brain the disease has affected. Here is a table to show which dementia effects communications.DementiaHow it affects communicat ion Alzheimer’s diseaseIf someone has Alzheimer’s disease then they regularly forget names, faces and recent events. They have problem finding the right words so can be hard making a conversation. Also they would have mood or behaviour problems such as irritability or loss in confidence so it would be hard for them to talk to someone and describe want they would like and making decisions. Vascular DementiaPeople with this type of dementia would find it hard to communicate because they find it difficult finding the right words to say. They may use inappropriate words which people may get offended as they don’t understand. They also become more emotional which again may affect the way they communicate to someone. Dementia with Lewy bodiesIndividuals with this type of dementia would find it difficult to communicate because of the variation in attention. It may be hard to communicate because they wouldn’t be focused as they are confused and not really listeni ng. FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia)This dementia is quite rare as it affects only 11,000 people in the UK compared with dementia with lewy bodies which affects about 100,000 people in the UK. People with FTD will have a decline in language abilities so they would find it difficult with trying to find the right word, finding it difficult to speak and have trouble with understanding common words and people’s names. Also in the later stages the reason why an individual may find it hard to communicate relates to the persons memory.The physical and mental needs that would affect communication with someone who had dementia would be a stroke. If someone had dementia it would be hard for them to try and talk and communicate but with a stroke as well it would be really hard to communicate as they would lose the use of their one side so their speech would be even more affected. In time the individual would get frustrated because they can’t speak and explain to people what they wan t or need. A mental affect with communication would be depression. If an individual had dementia and also suffered with depression, they would find it hard to talk to people as they find it hard to live through each  day. They would find it hard to talk because of their dementia so they would be able to express how they feel therefore would become even more depressed.If an individual has dementia had a sensory impairment would find it difficult to communicate. For example if gentlemen could see he would find it hard to explain what he wants as he can’t talk very well due to the dementia. Even if u offered a choice to him he would be able to say which one he wanted because of the dementia and would be able to point to the choice he would like because he can’t see. If a lady had a hearing impairment and had dementia she would find it hard because she would feel like she was in some sort of bubble as she can’t hear or talk to people. She would feel so down and de pressed because there is a lack of understanding between the carer and the individual. The lady’s well being would decline and her eating habits may also decrease as well.The environment would affect an individual who suffer from dementia because they wouldn’t recognise their surroundings so they would feel lost and maybe scared. It is important to have things and objects that they recognise because they won’t forget who they are. People who have dementia lose their confidence so being in a different environment would ‘throw them out of place’ so to speak. They would feel even lonelier as they wouldn’t know anyone. Having new things around you would make an individual with dementia feel even more disorientated as they would feel agitated and wouldn’t be able to relax because they are not familiar with the environment.The way people interact with dementia patients can vary between the way careers or other people behave towards them. For example is a career was feeling down, looking miserable and not putting any effort into their working then the individual would see and feel it and would not cooperate with you. If a career was really happy, jolly and being loud the individual may feel intimidated and again they wouldn’t want to cooperate. If the career was calm, relaxed and spoke in a clear voice then the chances are the individual would comply and do things as you ask. It is very important to know how to approach a person with dementia because they don’t know who you are so you can’t do anything that they wouldn’t like. You would have to be  polite and give clear instructions of you would like them to do. If you are friendly with them then they would be friendly back.The way you talk to someone with dementia is very important because it’s hard for the person to understand what they are doing because they have dementia but if you say it in a way that’s positive, loud and clear you would try get them to understand. You would have to speak proper English especially if you are working with the elderly, you can’t use any slang words because they wouldn’t understand what you mean. When talking you must slow down so they can hear what you are ask and you have to be polite when asking otherwise they would find you rude and words because again they would do what you ask.Also you have to talk in simple terms and not use big words because again they wouldn’t understand and if you do ask them to do something don’t ask all at once, ask in stages, for example if you are helping someone to get up in the morning instead of asking ‘Can you get out of bed’?, ask them in stages, Can you sit up’? Then ‘can you bring your feet around’? And then ‘can you stand up please’? This way the individuals thought process is less so can do each step at a time. This in time would make the individual more ha ppier and comfortable being around you and overall a positive atmosphere.

Agricultural Practices and Animal Husbandry

We also eat leaves and stem of spinach and plenty of fruits. Thus, human beings depend on plants and animals for food. 32. 2 AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES The branch of science which deals with methods of food production is known as agriculture. Besides studying the new methods of food production, in this branch of science we also study about how new and better varieties of crops can be grown, how animals and birds like cows, hens, etc. can be reared well and made to give more milk or better quality eggs?All these new methods which scientists develop come under agricultural practices. We need vegetables, fruits, cereals, pulses, etc. as food. For our clothes, we need the fibre of plants or animals. We get all these foods and fibres by farming or agriculture. ACTIVITY 32. 1 Make a list of things which you use every day. Categorise those items which you get directly or indirectly from agriculture. Does your list look like the one given below? For easy reading, agricultural pro ducts have been divided into the following groups as given in the table 32.1. Table 32. 1: Various categories of food items Examples Sorghum (Jowar), Ragi (finger millet) and Bajra (pearl millet) Arhar (Tur), Black gram (Urad), Green gram (Moong), and Bengal gram (Channa) Beans Peas, Soyabean, Cowpea, Lentil Oilseeds Mustard, Groundnut, Soyabean, Sunflower, Linseed, Castor and Cotton seed Root crops Carrot, Turnip, Sweet potato Tuber crops Potato, Tapioca, Ginger and Turmeric Sugar crops Sugarcane and Beet root Plantation crops Coffee, Tea, Rubber and Coconut Category Millets Pulses 32.3 HORTICULTURE Did you observe that something is missing from the list of food items which we eat every day. What is it that we have not listed here in table 32. 1? Yes, we have neither included vegetables nor fruits in this list. Vegetables and fruits are essential items of our diet and their growth and production are studied under a branch of agriculture called horticulture. Horticulture is derived from two latin words: hortus which means garden, and culture which means cultivation. : 288 : Agricultural Practices and Animal HusbandryThe branch of agriculture that deals with growing and production of vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants and management of orchards is called horticulture. Horticulturists research to find new ways by which better varieties of fruits and vegetables can be grown in large quantities. 32. 4 STEPS IN RAISING IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE To increase our food production we can sow good quality seeds and improve the methods of sowing. We can make the soil more rich and even use better techniques for harvesting the crops.Some of the agricultural practices which scientists have developed and which our farmers have started are explained here. 1. Preparation of soil This is an important practice which helps to enrich the soil and make it more fertile and aerated. It involves addition of manure followed by turning, loosening and levelling of the soil, using agricultural implements like spade, plough or mechanical farm implements. 2. Seed treatment Seeds can easily be attacked by micro-organisms. The crops that grow out of diseased seeds will also be unhealthy.So farmers treat these seeds by dipping them in certain chemicals like cerosan or agrosan. These chemicals do not allow the microorganisms to attack the seeds and damage them. Such chemicals are called Fungicides. Once the seeds are treated, they can be sown. 3. Preparing the seed bed and care of the seedlings In certain crop plants like paddy and some of the vegetables, seeds are not sown directly in the main field. First these seeds are sown in a nursery bed. Once they grow to a certain age they are transferred and planted in the main field. These small plants are called seedlings.When the farmers prepare a nursery bed they take care of the following: †¢ The soil of the bed should be soft and loose so that the tender roots of the seedlings can grow well. This can be achieve d by digging or ploughing the field well. †¢ The seed bed or where the seedlings are planted should be even so that when we water the plants, the water distributes itself uniformly all over the field. †¢ All weeds or unwanted plants in the field must be removed. Do you know why? It is because these weeds also take water and nutrients from the soil and as a result the desired plants cannot get enough of the nutrients.The seedlings also need to be protected from diseases and pests. This is done by spraying chemicals like Parathion, Sevin, Dimecron and Rogor on the seedlings. 4. Transplanting The process of removing the seedlings from the nursery bed and planting them in the main field is called transplanting. When we transplant, we must select those seedlings which have 4 to 5 healthy Agricultural Practices and Animal Husbandry : 289 : leaves. These are sowed at proper distance from each other. The main field must be ploughed and manured before transplanting.Generally rice a nd vegetables like tomato and brinjal are sown by transplanting. Transplanting of seedlings is a very important practice. This enables us to select good and healthy seedlings and get a better crop. Besides, when we transplant seedlings, their roots are able to go deep into the soil and get more nutrients. When seedlings get good food, they grow into healthy plants and give a better yield. 5. Adding fertilizers Crops need nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen etc. for their growth and pick up these nutrients from the soil.It is very important to add fertilizers to the soil. They provide nutrients to the soil and help to obtain a better crop yield. Depending on the type of soil and the crop to be grown, we use different fertilizers. The way we use a fertilizer also depends upon what type of fertilizer is being added to the soil. A fertilizer which contains nitrogen (nitrogenous fertilizer) is generally given in two or three doses. Other fertilizers are phosphatic and complex fe rtilizers. Some fertilisers are added to the soil before transplanting. You must have heard about the most commonly used fertilizer ‘NPK’.The letter N stands for nitrogen, P for phosphate and K for potassium. While fertilizers are manufactured from chemicals in factories, manure is made from organic substances and contains nutrients in small quantities. Some of the commonly used manure are: Farmyard manure, as the name suggests is a mixture of decomposed cattle dung (excreta) and urine, left over fodder (cattle feed) and litter (bedding provided to cattle in the farm). Compost is manure made from vegetable and animal refuse collected from domestic waste, straw, weeds etc. , dumped in a deep pit to decompose.Vermicompost is compost broken down by earthworms. Like fertilizers manures too add nutrients to soil. 6. Use of plant growth regulators Plant growth regulators are certain chemicals which regulate the growth of plants. All plants have growth regulators which determi ne how tall the plant would be, how big its fruit will be, etc. We can now add some plant growth regulators like auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid etc. to get a better yield of crops. You will learn more about these plant growth regulators in higher classes.7. Irrigation Irrigation is necessary for proper development of plants. Roots fail to develop and penetrate in the dry soil. The crop is irrigated according to its requirement and soil characteristics. Irrigation is essential during the seedling, flowering and grain filling stages of the crop. Rice crop needs standing water. : 290 : Agricultural Practices and Animal Husbandry 8. Harvesting Harvesting machines have now replaced the back breaking job of hand harvesting with the sickle and scythe. Harvesting machines cut or dig out the plant or its parts as required.The machines gather the plant parts, separate desired parts and eliminate parts not needed. Certain harvesting machines may even load the crop for transpor t. However, the above mentioned functions of harvesting machines depend on kind of crop, plant parts to be harvested, crop use, stage of maturity, etc. 32. 5 SOME OTHER DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES 32. 5. 1 Rotation of crops If you stay in a village you must have seen that the wheat crop is planted during the month of November and harvested in March and April. The rice crop is planted in June-July and harvested in October and November.The land that lies fallow in between these two cereal crops, can be used by the farmers for sowing a leguminous crop at this time. A leguminous crop does not take as long as wheat or rice to grow. So by the time the farmer has to plant the cereal crops (rice, wheat etc. ) the pulse is ready to be harvested. Leguminous crops include pea, beans, grams and pulses. They harbour nitrogen fixing bacteria in nodules of their roots (Fig. 32. 1). These bacteria convert free nitrogen from atmosphere into usable form. Thus, after the leguminous crop is harves ted, the soil is left fertile for other crops.The process of growing a different crop preferably a leguminous crop in between raising of two similar crops is called rotation of crops. Fig. 32. 1 Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the root nodules Crop rotation has a lot of benefits, (i) the land gets utilized, (ii) the pulse crop uses up different nutrients from the soil but it fixes the nitrogen from the air and makes the soil richer in nitrogen and so more fertile. This way the next cereal crop gives a better yield. If we do not practice crop rotation by growing different crops on a piece of land, butcontinue to grow the same crop, year after year, they will keep on using the same nutrients from the soil till all the nutrients in the soil get used up. The newly grown plants get poor nourishment from the soil and grow up to be weak and of bad quality. When plants are weak the insects can easily attack them and destroy them. Thus, crop rotation restores the fertility of Agricultural Practi ces and Animal Husbandry : 291 : the soil, it gives better yield, prevents crop from diseases and pests and reduces the dependence on chemical fertilizers.Multiple cropping Growing two to four crops one after the other in a year in the same field is called multiple cropping. Multiple cropping is possible, when we make use of crop varieties that grow for a short period of time. However, to get best results there must be a properly managed field. In fact, multiple cropping is the best solution for a country with food problem because same piece of land is used to grow different kinds of crops. ACTIVITY 32. 2 Here is something you can do. Visit a nearby agricultural farm or vegetable garden.Observe and note down the agricultural practices being used there. All the above mentioned practices are meant to ensure that plants have a healthy growth and yield a good crop. Along with these developments in our country we have also brought under cultivation more and more land. The increased culti vation of agricultural crops is in order to meet requirements of a growing population. 32. 5. 3 Improving the variety of seeds You must have often heard or read advertisements which encourage farmers to buy new and better varieties of seeds.Some of these new varieties are resistant to diseases and give a very good crop. Some of the improved high-yielding crop varieties which our scientists have developed are given in table 32. 2. Table 32. 2 Improved high-yielding varieties of crops Crop Rice Wheat Maize Lady’s finger (Bhindi) Brinjal Variety I R-8, Jaya, Padma, Bala Sarbati sonara, Sonalika, Kalyan sona, Hira-moti, RR-21 and UP 301 Ganga 101, Rankit and Deccan hybrid Pusa savani Pusa purple, Pusa kranti and Muktabeshi Do you know what name is given to scientists who develop such new varieties of seeds?They are called plant breeders. Plant breeders have not only raised better quality seeds but also better quality fruits. Mango has been named the ‘king of fruits’ and in our country we grow many varieties of mangoes. Some of them are Alphonse, Langra, Chausa, Saroli, Dussehri, Himsagar, Safeda, Sinduri, Mulgoba, Amini. 32. 6 PROTECTION OF CROPS IN THE FIELD As crops grow in the field, they have to be protected such that they produce a healthy yield. The weeds growing along with crops have to be removed and growing crops have to be saved from the attack of pests especially insects pests.