 Given Arapoulous' description of his homeland, what can you conclude about it?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. I Second Secretary Magnan took his green-lined cape and orange-feathered beret from the clothes tree. "I don't appreciate frivolity with reference to this Division," Magnan said testily. "When I first came here, the Manpower Utilization Directorate, Division of Libraries and Education was a shambles. Frankly, I question the wisdom of placing you in charge of such a sensitive desk, even for two weeks. "I assume you jest, Retief," Magnan said sadly. "The Bogans have launched no less than four military campaigns in the last two decades. Now, perhaps, we shall see them breaking that precedent and entering into the cultural life of the Galaxy." "Breaking and entering," Retief said. But I'm wondering what they'll study on d'Land. That's an industrial world of the poor but honest variety." "Academic details are the affair of the students and their professors," Magnan said. "Our function is merely to bring them together. I'll leave him to you, Retief," Magnan said. And remember: here at Corps HQ, all eyes are upon you." A tall broad man with bronze skin and gray hair, wearing tight trousers of heavy cloth, a loose shirt open at the neck and a short jacket, stepped into the room. I'm Hank Arapoulous. The wine crop is just about ready. Now I don't know if you're familiar with the Bacchus vines we grow...?" In between, the vines don't need a lot of attention, so our time's mostly our own. We've turned all the land area we've got into parks and farms. "It sounds like it, Mr. Arapoulous. We've got long seasons back home. Cold as hell in winter; eccentric orbit, you know. Blue-black sky, stars visible all day. Lots of skiing, bob-sledding, ice skating; and it's the season for woodworkers. Our furniture—" "I've seen some of your furniture," Retief said. "All local timbers too. Lots of metals in our soil and those sulphates give the woods some color, I'll tell you. The theatres are set up on the sand, or anchored off-shore. You have the music and the surf and the bonfires and stars—we're close to the center of a globular cluster, you know...."
 The conditions allow for successful crop growing.
 The conditions allow for successful crop growing.  The conditions there are inhospitable.  Arapoulous' homeland has unpredictable seasons.  There are few people living back on the land which Arapoulous comes from.