European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                An amp the world wild Heather slowly leaving Britain a Hills Robert bunco stood on a Hill in Northwest coast of England near the Lake District looking at the ground. Bunco the head land use expert at the Marl Wood research station in Lirange Over Sands pointed out one area was greenish Brown covered with Bracken and scrub. Another enclosed by a wire Fence was dotted with the soft springy Heather Bushes with Lavender blooms that once filled acres of Hills heaths and moors throughout Britain. Less than 50 years ago both sides of the Hill were covered with Heather. But since the end of world War ii the amount of Heather in England and Wales has declined by 25 percent. The demise has been attributed to increased land use for agriculture overgrazing by sheep the planting of forests accumulation of nutrients in the soil which allows other plants to replace Heather and improper burning of Heather Fields. For centuries Heather has been a Staple of the British landscape. The Fields Are loved by nature walkers and landscape preservationists and also serve As food and habitat for numerous wildlife species including the grouse. A recent report by Bunce and the Institute of terrestrial ecology an Independent research organization said that Heather declined sharply in England and Wales in the two decades after researcher Robert Bunce is one of those trying to save Britain s vanishing Heather. Not world War ii. The report was based on information from satellite pictures ground surveys and photographs of Heather growing areas taken in the 1940s, 1960s and 1980s. A similar study by a different research organization will be conducted in Scotland where nearly 80 percent of Britain a 5.68 million acres of Heather is found. The loss was particularly pronounced in Lowland regions where much of the land had been converted to farming. In some instances the loss of Heather is irreversible. Heather thrives in Cool moist conditions on land that is poor in nutrients. Once the land has been slowed fertilized and turned to grass by Farmers and sheep raisers the Heather will never come Back. But if the Heather has declined because of overgrazing it can return provided the land is fenced off and left alone. A at this Point we done to know How much is gone forever a said Bunce. Heathers decline has pitted an Alliance of wildlife conservationists landscape enthusiasts and grouse shooters against Farmers. Conservationists and landscape preservationists want to reduce grazing areas to revive lost Heather Fields. Hunters want to ensure that the remaining grouse moors Are protected and done to disappear. And gamekeepers want to revive the regular burning of the Field a Only the tops Are burned and the fires must not be too hot a which is essential for the Heather to thrive. A people want to see Heather but no one is paying Farmers to produce it a said Bunce. A and Farmers lose Money if they keep the Heather going instead of raising  new York times at a glance Belgium size 11,779 Square Miles slightly larger than Maryland population 9,897,000 1989 estimate main languages flemish dutch French currency belgian franc 34.2=$ 1 travel restrictions passport or military id card required. Overview Belgium is mostly Fiat divided in three by the Scheldt and Meuse Rivers both of which play Myor roles in the country a Commerce. The land is Hilly and wooded in the Southeastern Region known As the ardennes. Brussels the capital is a leading Trade Center and Headquarters of both nato and the european economic Community. Several Well preserved towns Are a Magnet for tourists. Its a fact Belgium has been a major Battlefield throughout history it is the site of both Waterloo which spelled defeat for Napoleon and Bastogne a key engagement in world War is Battle of the bulge any questions q a does help plants grow human Contact a. A gardeners who want to keep their plants from growing too spindly might do Well to pet them. According to the findings of two Stanford University biochemists touching or rubbing a plants leaves could stimulate genes that May allow the Plant to change its own growth pattern to  a a is soap a Good Antiseptic a no but washing the hands with soap and water does remove bacteria and other microorganisms because soap or botanists have Long recognized that mechanical stimulation like that provided by wind keeps plants Shorter and encourages them to form thicker trunks. But the Stanford researchers working with a variety of Mustard called Arabi Topsis Thalia a were the first to show that such stimulation works to activate specific genes dubbed touch induced genes. Many of those genes contain information needed by Plant cells to make Calmo Dulin a protein that carries Calcium into cells and activates enzymes. Washington Post detergent Breaks Down the surface tension so water can lift germs from the skin. The Stream of water carries away Many microbes but they Are not killed. For real Antiseptic action in other words the killing of germs a stronger chemical such As iodine or Hydrogen peroxide must be applied to the skin. New York times sunday May 13,1990