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Growing Tomatoes

Thank Goodness for USDA Thesaurus!

HoosierCheroKee

14 years ago

However, maybe rather than dictate definitions for terms already defined by longterm, customary and common use (like "heirloom"), maybe they can provide definitions for terms the agency is more involved with, like ...

No-till

Mulch

Mulching

Wintersow

Wintersown

Wintersowing

on and on ...

And why is USDA's definition of "heirloom" interchangable, according to them, with "heritage varieties," "traditional varieties," and "variedades antiguas," which translates directly from Spanish as "old varieties?"

Interesting document, but not always applicable, adequate or complete.

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Comments (7)

trudi_d
14 years ago
Bill, there is a link there for suggesting terms.

WinterSown is a non-profit. It's not a method or horticultural term. However, Winter Sowing Method is ;-) The descriptor was added in 2006(?) and amended the following year to include the word "vented".

The Spanish thesaurus was developed in conjunction with SIDALC. Foreign language terminology can be interesting to say the least. I'm sure you can imagine the results for 'KIDS', which are baby goats, but also young humans.

Info about Hierarchy and Cross References are here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Method
trudi_d
14 years ago
try 'No Tillage'.

Here is a link that might be useful: No Tillage
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HoosierCheroKee
Original Author
14 years ago
As I said, the USDA Thesaurus doesn't define mulch or any other combo-term using mulch other than "live mulch" which would be the least familiar application for most folks. And "mulch" surely is a more commonly applied terminology within USDA literature than "heirloom."

Trudi is the one who has repeatedly brought up that Wintersown.org somehow is under some sort of USDA umbrella, yet the USDA Thesaurus doesn't define wintersowing, etc.

And as far as "no-till," whether one searches it under "no-till" or "no-tillage" is nowhere defined other than as connected with conservation tillage, yet the US Dept. of Agriculture pays farmers for no-till practices through NRCS and refers to "no-till" in all sorts of USDA publications.

My point is 1) why doesn't USDA stick to fleshing out their thesaurus with definitions for terminology used in their own programs before wandering into terminology ("heirloom") rarely even used and generally poo-pooed by USDA technicians; and 2) what the blazes gives USDA authority to define terms like "heirloom" that have been in general use and generally understood without USDA technicians ever uttering the word or using it in USDA publications ... other than all of a sudden maybe wanting to be trendy.
trudi_d
14 years ago
Bill, a thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms and homonyms.
HoosierCheroKee
Original Author
14 years ago
Uh, I understand that, Trudi. I've used dictionaries and thesauruses all my life while writing professionally. I also deal with USDA in my job and have for many years. My points still stand.

In case anyone is wondering why the discussion began, it's because of another current discussion being derailed by the Trudi's insistance that USDA has defined "heirloom" in a singular way that we all should accept and that Trudi apparently feels another member's point of view regarding the working definitions of "heirloom" is a self-promoting defense of that member's published book.
trudi_d
14 years ago
Bill, I'm just saying that it's a defintion standard and that the thesaurus is generally used by agricultural researchers and writers.

And, despite your misread, I did write I understood her point of view and I said or meant nothing else. Everything else is on your own, including your problems with the thesaurus finding No Till and Mulching. It took me about three seconds to bring up both, but I am familiar with that thesaurus because I use it frequently.
kwselke
14 years ago
You guys have never been to Texas. My Aggie friends call Merced, Heatwave, and Surefire heirlooms.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/2009tomatotrials/index.html

I are an Aggie and I understand what is being said.

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