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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dear Ron</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=rongretlarson@comcast.net
href="mailto:rongretlarson@comcast.net">rongretlarson@comcast.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org">Discussion of biomass cooking
stoves</A> ; <A title=kchisholm@seaside.ns.ca
href="mailto:kchisholm@seaside.ns.ca">kchisholm@seaside.ns.ca</A> ; <A
title=karnask@hotmail.com
href="mailto:karnask@hotmail.com">karnask@hotmail.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A
title=biochar-production@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar-production@yahoogroups.com">biochar-production@yahoogroups.com</A>
; <A title=biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com">biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com</A>
; <A title=biochar@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com">biochar@yahoogroups.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 02, 2012 4:57
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Stoves] Biochar as an
Agricultural Tool Was: Re: [biochar]allAfrica.com: Africa: Biochar
-Unfulfilled Promises in Cameroon</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<STYLE>p { margin: 0; }</STYLE>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Four Lists,
cc Kevin , <A title=karnask@hotmail.com href="mailto:karnask@hotmail.com"
target=_blank>jim karnofski</A><BR><BR> 1. This is in large
part to give thanks to Jim Karnofski, for his responses. I find little
to disagree with in Kevin's remarks (for maybe the first time) - on the need
for more information. But I don't think he is asking for the right
information. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## The
information I was attempting to elicit was information that would excite any
rational Farmer, with the prospects of increasing his annual income. Perhaps
you could rephrase my questions, and ask them in a better manner?</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And I think
he is misinterpreting whatever he has been reading - as he seems to feel the
Biochar community (only partly represented by these lists) are ready to
endorse any form of char on any soil for any crop. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Not at
all!! The IBI clearly distinguishes between various feed sources for
pyrolysis, and restricts their recommendations for chars that can be called
"biochar." That is a good thing. It brings some knowledge and consistency into
"biochar."</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> I
challenge Kevin to cite any example of the overselling he accuses biochar
proponents of. I doubt there is any farmer anywhere on earth who is
stupid enough to place a lot of unknown material on very much of his/her soil
without the proof easily available from a few square meter test (following an
even-easier few pot trial, and still easier germination tests).</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## OK... I
offer the paragraph you just wrote as evidence of overselling biochar!! :-)
Firstly, pot trials are known to give results that can differ from results of
larger scale field applications. Secondly, there is no way that a Farmer can
easily get truly meaningful results from such tests unless he knows
a great deal about biochar, his particular soil deficiencies, what other
additives he should be adding, and in what quantities. What I am asking for is
some guidelines for what the Farmer needs to know, to structure
meaningful tests, when such test work could have a reasonable potential for
improving his annual economic situation.<BR><BR> 2. Kevin quotes
one sentence out of the report Jim Karnofski has recommended, which
reads <BR><BR><EM> "Current
knowledge about the effects of adding biochar to Australian agricultural soils
is not</EM><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><EM>sufficient to support
recommending its use."<BR><BR> </EM>I hope that Kevin's intent was
not meant the (cherry-picking) way it <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">could</SPAN> be taken -
that current knowledge recommends <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">against</SPAN> its
use</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Speaking
of "cherry picking", the quote in context is as follows:</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">" # This
63 page report seems to be balanced and sensible. I would draw attention
to a quote from the summary: <FONT size=2
face=MyriadPro-Light><FONT size=2 face=MyriadPro-Light> </DIV>
<P style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
align=left><FONT size=3><STRONG>"Current knowledge about the effects of adding
biochar to Australian agricultural soils is not sufficient to support
recommending its use."</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
align=left> <FONT size=3># This would seem to support my inquiry for more
guidelines on where to consider using biochar, and where to avoid using
it. </FONT> <FONT size=3>All I am asking is for more
knowledge and guidelines to support recommending its use."</FONT></P>
<P style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
align=left> </P>
<P style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
align=left><FONT size=3>## The first line of my quote acknowledges this as a
good report. It basically invites an interested reader to actually read teh
full report. Who is going to pass up a "balanced report?" The second sentence
draws attention to the need for caution, and the final two snetences simply
call for further information. I would suggest that this is rather balanced,
and is not at all a "biochar slam."</FONT></P></FONT></FONT>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR>Indeed the
very next sentence shows that was not the intent of the report authors:<SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><BR><BR> "<SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">However</SPAN>,
international and Australian research will</SPAN> <SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">aid decisions about its use when results become
available."</SPAN><BR><BR>## OK!! This snetence seems to support exactly what
I was asking for!! What's the problem?</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
Nobody I know in the Biochar world thinks we have the all the needed answers
today. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Very true.
Any Farmer asking anyone in teh biochar world a specific question about
biochar economics is very likely to get a vague and nos-specific reply.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And again I
ask Kevin (or anyone) for examples of over-selling by any Biochar
proponent. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## See
above.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A good place
to send me is to www.biochar-international.org - which is listing 15 -18 new
technical peer-reviewed articles <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">every
month</SPAN>. Who among these authors (or any cite at the IBI site) are
overly positive?</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## OK: See:
<A
href="http://www.biochar-international.org/sites/default/files/Technical%20Bulletin%20Biochar%20Tree%20Planting.pdf">http://www.biochar-international.org/sites/default/files/Technical%20Bulletin%20Biochar%20Tree%20Planting.pdf</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This, in my
opinion, is a responsibly written report, in that it stresses the need for
testing. However, I think it can be improved upon, in that it has a
potential to do biochar a disservice for the following reasons:</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">1: It
says nothing about geographical limitations. Benefits may be greater in
tropical and sub-tropical climates than in temperate or northern
climates.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">2: It says
nothing about what advantages biochar can bring to a soil.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">3: It says
nothing about the desirability of a soil analysis, to determine if biochar can
actually help a problem or deficiency the soil has.</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">4: This report
suggests an application rate in the range of about 1% or less have been used
in field crops: As I recall, the Japanese have used about 1% on tree crops,
while field crops seem to do better with 5% to 10%. Big difference. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">5: Only
biochar is shown in the photos, and there is no mention of the need for other
additives, such as vegetative matter, compost, manure, fertilizer, lime,
etc.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">6: It says
nothing about the "time factor", in that results in second and subsequent
years are likely to be better than in teh first year</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## I do know
from my own field tests that biochar alone retarded growth in my
tests, giving worse results than the untreated control plot. My results
were much better in plots with added seaweed, but still the results with
seaweed plus biochar were not as good as with seaweed alone. The failure to
mention these (what I consider to be) other important and relevant factors
could lead a Farmer or Grower to the wrong conclusions. Thats why I feel this
specific IBI report oversells biochar and could be improved
upon. <BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><BR> 3. But the
real issue to me remains the fact that many (most?) biochar proponents believe
that the sequestration benefits of Biochar justify (for moral and ethical
reasons) transfer payments from developed to developing countries.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Lets first
see if biochar can "stand on its own two feet" and be a direct benefit to the
Farmer, before worrying about moral and ethical considerations. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
Climate deniers reject this out of hand, it seems - as they have concluded for
reasons I cannot comprehend that anthropogenic global warming (AGW) is a
hoax. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Whether
AGW is a hoax or not is another issue. The immediate issue of direct concern
is whether or not the use of biochar is economically advantageous to the
Farmer.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> This
report, as does Kevin thankfully), acknowledges that there is plenty of
evidence that Biochar can help in carbon negativity. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Certainly,
it can. However, that is another issue, separate from whether or not biochar
is a good investment for the Farmer.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> So I
think the main Biochar issue today is whether there is any cheaper, more
socially beneficial, less costly means of removing excess atmospheric
carbon. I think the experiments to date are mostly limited because of
the active work of climate deniers to prevent funding. I hope someone
can convince me there is another reason (with published citations I can
research).</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## Another
way to look at it is that there is only so much Research money to go around.
Perhaps if less was spent on Climate Research, more would be available to
advance the use of biochar as a money maker for the Farmer.</DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR>
4. To counterbalance Kevin's single-sentence quote,I think it would help
in this dialog to give the complete <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">"Conclusions"</SPAN>
section from the recent Australian report. I have emphasized the
positives found in these three paragraphs - that (to me) justify the
conclusion that Biochar is likely to have a very important role is world
agriculture - and needs lots of experimentation from the experts and amateurs
alike.<BR><BR> <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"> <SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">13 Conclusions</SPAN></SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> "Application of biochar to
agricultural land for soil amelioration and agricultural
productivity</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">improvements is <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">not a new</SPAN>
phenomenon. Terra preta soils in the Amazonian Basin are</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">characterised by
<SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">highly
fertile</SPAN> dark soils created from burning crop stubble and
other</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">household wastes <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">over thousands of
years</SPAN>. More recently, biochar production from agricultural</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">waste products has
been assessed in an attempt to replicate these fertile soils.</SPAN>"<BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> <STRONG>(RWL: I think that the
experience in the Amazon over millennia are the primary reason that most
Biochar proponents use for justifying our enthusiasm for Biochar.
Productivity improvement factors today of 2 and 3 and land value increases of
5 and 6 after 500 and more years ought to count for something.</STRONG>
<STRONG> Why believe BFW or other detractors who say modern science
can't duplicate that?</STRONG> </DIV><STRONG></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">##
<STRONG>You are overselling biochar again. Biochar is NOT Terra Preta, and it
is misleading to suggest that it is.</STRONG>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">"A number of benefits have been identified
within the literature; biochar </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">has
been found</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> to</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">improve
agriculturally significant soil parameters such as </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">soil
pH, cation exchange capacity</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">and
soil water holding capacity</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">.
Researchers have found the increase in these performance</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">parameters has
improved </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">nitrogen
use efficiency</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> and therefore
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">crop
productivity</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> in limited</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">field trials.
Further, biochar has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">carbon
sequestration</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">, as well as potentially
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">decreasing
methane and nitrous oxide emissions</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">from the soil.</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">
(RWL: I have re-read Kevin's responses below - and don't find
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">ANY</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> of these benefits mentioned. Half that number
of benefits would get most people excited.</SPAN>)</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><STRONG>## These
are good aspects of biochar, indeed. However, the claims are conceptual, and
not quantified.<BR></STRONG> <BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> "Although much research to date
has been promising, knowledge gaps remain. Through</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">current government
investment in large biochar projects, such as the Climate Change
Research</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Program, researchers have </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">amassed
an impressive amount</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> of data and
information, which</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">will form the </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">ideal
base</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> to further research. With this
information, the net benefits in both</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">plant productivity
improvements and greenhouse gas reductions from using biochar may be</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">assessed before
widescale application. However, further research is needed to identify
optimal</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">application rates, biochar quality parameters and
effects of biochar on chemical efficacy. Once</SPAN><BR
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">further research</SPAN>
is undertaken and the </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">knowledge
gaps closed</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">, biochar may play a role
in</SPAN><BR style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">improving productivity and environmental
sustainability issues in Australian agriculture.</SPAN><BR> <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RWL: at the recent Kyoto Biochar meeting
,Tom Miles and I and a few others on this list heard Dr. Evelyn Krull of
CSIRO give an outstanding talk on what they are learning in Australia.
She predicted generalizable results in a few more years. The data is
coming - and as Jim Karnofski is emphasizing below, we should not be surprised
that it hasn't happened immediately. This is by far the most complicated
technical topic I have ever worked on. But the need for it, our good
fortune that it was used for thousands of years in the Amazon, and the great
progress made by the soil science community is enough for me to retain my
enthusiasm for Biochar - until proven misplaced.</SPAN></DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## With all the vagueness and nebulosity associated
with the above statement, it is understandable why a Farmer should be cautious
about spending his limited resources on biochar. Reasonable guidelines would
give him a rational basis for deciding if biochar might be economically
advantageous enough for him, to do testing.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR>
5. There are about 100 references at the end of this report.
Those who are derogatory toward Biochar (BFW and a few allies) have
never published one (I think) in a peer-reviewed journal. I ask again
for something/anything I can read to justify other than enthusiasm for rapidly
expanding the little that we are doing in Biochar.<BR><BR><BR>
6. <FONT face=Arial>Kevin's last sentence below summarizes his view I
think - so I will only concentrate on it:<BR> <SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">"These reports are no way to sell a Farmer on using
biochar!! :-) Would you know of ANY URL's that would give a Farmer a rational
and economic basis for justifying a biochar test? Otherwise, the Farmers are
sure to be naysayers."</SPAN><BR> <SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(RWL: I maintain that Kevin is putting the
onus on scientists who are (fortunately) too smart to give what he
asks. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## Scientists... Agricultural
Extension Officers... biochar producers... NGO's... it doesn't matter who
gives the Farmer sound advice, just so long as it is sound, and specific
enough that teh Farmer can see that there may be a place in his operation, to
warrant a sensible biochar test.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> This new Australian report,
like virtually every one before it, gives plenty of reasons for any farmer who
can get his/her hands on a lttile char (which is in short supply) to try
a few experiments pertinent to his/her situation. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## Don't forget the important
sentence in their summary of their Report:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">
<P style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
align=left><FONT size=3><STRONG>"Current knowledge about the effects of adding
biochar to Australian agricultural soils is not sufficient to support
recommending its use."</STRONG></FONT></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The scientific literature is almost
sure to not be pertinent (at this stage) to his/her specific char/soil/crop
combination. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## In the absence of specific
recommendations, the only thing we can rely on is scientific literature. If it
cannot be relied on as being pertinent, biochar is in big
trouble.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Smart farmers and soil scientists
all over the world are already doing these tests - and reporting generally
positive results. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## I have yet to see a report by a
smart Farmer confirming that he has applied biochar to a second and third
field.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Getting and reporting a negative
result can be a big help as well - as clearly too many don't know at all what
to do, or couldn't get the right char, etc. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"># I was criticized for reporting
negative results from a competently run biochar test. :-)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">That is the nature of this type of
very difficult research - vary the parameters and follow the leads the
following year on what does best the first year. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">## If there are that many unknowns
and teh research is very difficult, wouldn't you agree that biochar is being
"over-promoted", or at teh very least, that it is being "prematurely
promoted?"</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> Only climate deniers, who
are unable to see the true economics at play here, seem not to understand the
need at this stage of knowledge for experiments - not
prescriptions.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"># I am sure that some
Farmers are Climate Change Believers, and that some are Climate Change
Disbelievers. Whatever. The important thing is "Is it economically sensible
for the Farmer to test and use biochar?"
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>
Again I ask for citations so I can understand any opposite view.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">## It seems
that you are allowing the tail (Climate Change concerns) to wag the dog (the
use of biochar as a soil amendment to improve agriculture). Nobody seems to be
able to take a responsible stand on where the use of biochar is likely to give
an economic benefit to the Farmer. </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Best
wishes,</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Kevin</DIV></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></SPAN>
<DIV
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
dir=ltr> <SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </SPAN><BR
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ron</SPAN><BR> <BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR id=zwchr>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><B>From:
</B>"Kevin" <kchisholm@seaside.ns.ca><BR><B>To:
</B>biochar@yahoogroups.com, stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org<BR><B>Cc:
</B>biochar-production@yahoogroups.com,
biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com<BR><B>Sent: </B>Sunday, January 1, 2012
11:56:58 AM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Re: [Stoves] Biochar as an Agricultural Tool
Was: Re:
[biochar] allAfrica.com:
Africa: Biochar -Unfulfilled Promises in Cameroon<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial>Dear Jim</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=karnask@hotmail.com href="mailto:karnask@hotmail.com"
target=_blank>jim karnofski</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=biochar@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com" target=_blank>Richard Hard</A> ; <A
title=stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org
href="mailto:stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org"
target=_blank>stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A
title=biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com"
target=_blank>biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com</A> ; <A
title=biochar-production@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:biochar-production@yahoogroups.com"
target=_blank>biochar-production@yahoogroups.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, December 31, 2011 3:59
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Biochar as an Agricultural
Tool Was: Re: [Stoves] [biochar] allAfrica.com: Africa: Biochar -Unfulfilled
Promises in Cameroon</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><SPAN style="DISPLAY: none"> </SPAN> <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~-->
<DIV style="POSITION: relative" id=ygrp-mlmsg>
<DIV style="Z-INDEX: 1" id=ygrp-msg><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~-->
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P></P>
<DIV dir=ltr>Dear All,<BR> <BR>
<DIV>
<DIV id=SkyDrivePlaceholder></DIV>
<HR id=stopSpelling>
From: <A href="mailto:karnask@hotmail.com"
target=_blank>karnask@hotmail.com</A><BR>To: <A
href="mailto:biochar@yahoogroups.com"
target=_blank>biochar@yahoogroups.com</A><BR>Subject: RE: Biochar as an
Agricultural Tool Was: Re: [Stoves] [biochar] allAfrica.com: Africa: Biochar
-Unfulfilled Promises in Cameroon<BR>Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:54:53
+0000<BR><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr>I see Kevin as a thoughtful and skeptical, but not well-read
</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># I have been reading about Terra Preta
and Biochar for the past 6 to 8 years. Perhaps I have not been reading the
right material?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>and Kevin seems to see agriculture
as a science with certainty as if it always has black and white
answers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial># No. We do not need such "black or white"
answers... some good general and rational guidelines would
suffice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> The more you know about soils, the more respect for
uncertainty you have as the chemical nature of soil is infinite.
<BR> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># Agreed. However, we must be able to
quantify the areas where biochar could most likely be of benefit, and the
areas where it would least likely to be of benefit. At least, we would
then be able to do test work that had a higher likelihood of
success.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>As far as farm economics, time and testing will tell, but I
am certain the answer will be more pragmatic than some farmers can
stand. For instance, a recommendation might be, add biochar as you can
afford, building up to 1% in your lifetime and leave the next increment to
the next farmer over the next generation. The efficiency and effectiveness
of the soil is improved with the added carbon. And Carbon, by definition, is
organic. Carbon compounds need not be edible to be considered
organic.</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># I would respectfully suggest that
while biomass matter is organic, biochar is organic matter that has been
mineralized. It does nor function in soil the same way that true organic
matter does. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>I encourage Kevin to carefully read the scientific
table-top research studies from Australia, <A
href="http://adl.brs.gov.au/data/wareho%20use/biochar9abcm001/biochar9abcm00101/TR.2011.06_Biochar_v1.0.0.pdf"
target=_blank>http://adl.brs.gov.au/data/warehouse/biochar9abcm001/biochar9abcm00101/TR.2011.06_Biochar_v1.0.0.pdf</A><BR> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial>.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=3
face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial># This 63 page report seems to be balanced and
sensible. I would draw attention to a quote from the
summary: <FONT size=2 face=MyriadPro-Light><FONT size=2
face=MyriadPro-Light>
<P align=left><FONT size=3><STRONG>"Current knowledge about the effects of
adding biochar to Australian agricultural soils is not sufficient to support
recommending its use."</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P align=left> <FONT size=3># This would seem to support my inquiry for
more guidelines on where to consider using biochar, and where to avoid using
it. </FONT> <FONT size=3>All I am asking is for more
knowledge and guidelines to support recommending its
use. </FONT></P></FONT></FONT></FONT>
<P align=left><FONT size=3 face=Arial><FONT size=2
face=MyriadPro-Light><FONT size=2 face=MyriadPro-Light><FONT
size=3></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><BR> and the US, <A
href="http://www.biochar-us.org/pdf%20files/biochar_report_lowres.pdf"
target=_blank>http://www.biochar-us.org/pdf%20files/biochar_report_lowres.pdf</A>,
for a reasonable up-to-date summary of the best known scientific
evidence of why it was used by the ancients for MILLENNIA. <BR></P>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># Pages 3 to 5 of this 84 page report
give good insight into where biochar could be a benefit to Agriculture. The
bulk of this report extols biochar's energy and climate change advantages.
However, there is nothing specific that would enable a Farmer to make a
rational decision on whether or not to bother with a biochar
test.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>I am pragmatic enough to hedge on my own to incrementally
add biochar as I can.</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr># <FONT face=Arial>What were the reasons that led you to use
biochar? Which of biochar's features do you feel are of benefit to you?
Do you feel that you are getting a good financial return on your investment
in biochar additions? If so, what would you estimate the simple Return on
Investment to be? <BR></FONT> <BR>As far as having a clear
answer with diagnosis and intervention with organic soils,
intervention is going to be harder to achieve as the infinite nature of
an organic soil does not lend itself to the very simple Chemistry 101 of the
past Leibig-like "soil science". The present and future
complex soil science will consider the soil as an in finite mixture of
compounds and generally unknown bacteria, fungi, plasmids, prions, and
elemental compounds, with unmeasurable symbiotic interactions,
requiring meta-genetics, to get a glimpse as to what might be happening in
any given micro environment. Good luck with funding basic organic soil
science as the money is not there. It is the Agro-chemical-industrial
complex that sets the priorities with funding and that is not compatable
with organic enhancing measures like biochar. It may have to be up to us as
Citizen Scientists to get the job done during this stage of our societies
growth and development.<BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># OK.... given the complex nature of
organic soils, and the probable difficulty of evaluating results in a
meaningful and transferable manner, would it be best to avoid biochar
application on organic soils, and focus biochar testing on soils with a
lower organic content? Concerning your suggestion that "Big Ag" is choking
off funding for biochar research, perhaps effort should be focused on
finding ways to make "Organic Fertilisers" incorporating biochar, as
suggested by Anil Rajvanshi?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT><BR>We should all get used to painting
with a broad brush, still using the Chem 101, but using a broad brush to
address problems. The ancients threw everything back into the soil, feeding
it like the soil is an omnivore, cultivating like it needed to
respirate and respecting it like their life depended upon it.
<BR></DIV><FONT size=3 face=Arial></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># There is a huge message here. Terra
Preta is said to have worked wonderfully, and to have been extremely
fertile. You seem to have described "Organic Gardening with a Charcoal
Addition." :-) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>The soil has been treated lik e dirt for too long, just a
petri-dish medium with N-P-K needs, etc. One needs to treat it like the
living ecosystem that it is. Biochar has been proven to be effective
and not harmful in any soil for advancing the quantity and the diversity of
life. So, in my organic soil it is part of my compost regimen because it
works well for me as it seemed to have work well for others for thousands of
years.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3 face=Arial># I would suggest that the
attitude "...treating soil like dirt..." outlook took hold with the
advent of industrially produced fertilizers, and the reduced attention to
the importance of soil organic matter.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=3
face=Arial></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>We need the naysayers, but they need to read and practice,
too. <BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial># Well, if a Farmer that was interested in the
potential use of biochar on his farm read the above two Reports, he would
probably be left with the messages:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>1: Australian Report: There are many unknowns,
and biochar is unlikely to be economically advantageous.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>2: American Report: Since only 3 out of 84
pages in this report suggest a potential for agricultural benefit from using
biochar, it is probably not not worth considering it further at this
time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial># These reports are no way to sell a Farmer on
using biochar!! :-) Would you know of ANY URL's that would give a Farmer a
rational and economic basis for justifying a biochar test? Otherwise, the
Farmers are sure to be naysayers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>Thanks!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial>Kevin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>Jim<BR> <BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV id=SkyDrivePlaceholder></DIV>
<HR id=stopSpelling>
To: stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org<BR>CC: biochar-policy@yahoogroups.com;
biochar-production@yahoogroups.com; biochar@yahoogroups.com<BR>From:
kchisholm@ca.inter.net<BR>Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:52:15 -0400<BR>Subject:
Biochar as an Agricultural Tool Was: Re: [Stoves] [biochar] allAfrica.com:
Africa: Biochar -Unfulfilled Promises in Cameroon<BR><BR><SPAN> </SPAN>
<DIV id=ecxygrp-mlmsg>
<DIV id=ecxygrp-msg>
<DIV id=ecxygrp-text>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dear All</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Biochar is not a panacea, contrary to what its
enthusiastic supporters infer. It works, and is beneficial in some
circumstances, and it fails to be beneficial in
others.</FONT><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<snip, as not covering the following><BR></DIV><A></A>
<P align=left color="#000000" avgcert??>No virus found in this
message.<BR>Checked by AVG - <A
href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</A><BR>Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus
Database: 2109/4718 - Release Date: 01/02/12</P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>