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CONTENTS.
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Title
Page
NOTE
PRELIMINARIES
6 SECTIONS [1]
[2] [3]
[4] [5]
[6]
THE
EVOLUTION OF HORTICULTURE
IN NEW ENGLAND:
I.
THE
EARLIEST COLONIES IN
NEW ENGLAND
II.
THE COLONIES OF
MASSACHUSETTS BAY
through page 105 of 180
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PRELIMINARIES. [1]
The relations which the New England settlers
held to nations of which they were direct descendent, necessitate consideration
of the gradual evolution of horticulture, not only as it refers to them
and their immediate predecessors, but even to the earliest historical record of
man.
The term horticulture is applied to the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, herbs,
or flowers, within a limited space or enclosure commonly called a garden. The
English word garden is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
gyrdan, to grid in or enclosure. Orchard
had its origin in
ort geard, an enclosure for fruit trees.
Wyrt geard, signified a garden for any
kind of vegetable or herb.
That horticulture preceded agriculture may be inferred from the history of the
human race. The Scriptures say: The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden,
and there he put the man that he had formed.
And the Lord God took the man and
put him into the garden to dress it and to keep it. Whatever construction may
be put upon the story as presented to us in Genesis, it is reasonable to
conclude that our first parents were placed in Paradise to
practise horticulture. This was their occupation, and continued to
be that of their immediate descendants, and undoubtedly of all Eastern nations
for an indefinite period. The attention of man as at first specially directed to
the cultivation of fruits; they were mostly fruit eaters, and as the Oriental
nations long remained stationary, and the value of property and the consequent
necessity of enclosing their cultivated lands thus gradually became appreciated,
gardens were formed, in which were planted fruit trees and particularly the
vine. Those devoted solely to the latter were termed vineyards, for the
protection of which special laws were instituted, on account of the value of
their produce and the nature of its properties, which experience soon taught the
people. The qualities of various herbs, among these vegetables, sooner or later
became recognized as articles of food, and gradually led to their culture, also
in enclosed lots. Of these facts the Scriptures fully inform us.
Thus commenced the art of gardening, which at first was conducted by means of
the most primitive tool, such as a pointed stick would provide, and by which the
useless and undesirable plants known as weeds could be eradicated. In due time,
the scarcity of food led to the discovery an great value of cereals, and the
demand for greater quantities of these would tend to the extension of the areas
of cultivation and easier means of production. Hence the pointed stick elected
was of larger dimensions, and rendered more manageable by the addition of
handles at one end, while at the other, by the attachment of a domesticated
animal, it was propelled through the soil; by these means thus enabling man to
till larger districts in other words, to covert him into an agriculturalist or
cultivator of fields.
Thus agriculture, as it provides food in
sufficient quantities adapted to the wants of man, may in a certain sense be
considered to precede horticulture and to be its parent. On the other hand,
since Agriculture, historically considered, was evolved from the art of
gardening, as has been shown, the latter should enjoy this distinction of
parentage.
Horticulture, in fin, is the perfection of agriculture, as it supplies luxuries,
and therefore, in the language of Winthrop,1 is emphatically the
fine art of common life. It is eminently a republican fine art; its implements
may be wielded by every arm, and its results be appreciated by every eye. When
the precision and care which now marks this art are manifested in all the
operations of the agriculturist, then, eventually, the whole world will become a
garden.
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