Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
use of science and technology. They lived adjacent to rivers consequently early de-
velopments involved irrigation using the shaduf and other devices for moving wa-
ter. The shadulf originated in the Mesopotamian area of south-western Asia between
3,000-4,000 years ago. Later the Persian water wheel or typanum, the Archimedean
screw, which has been attributed to Archimedes (c.287BC-212BC), and the Roman
screw were used to move water in early Spain. Some initial teachings of horticulture
from ancient Persian rulers such has Cyrus the Great (c.600BC or 576 BC-530BC)
and scholars like Theophrastus (c.371-c.287 BC) (Anon
2013d
) and Hippocrates of
Kos (ca. 460BC—ca. 370BC) from ancient Greece have survived. Consequently,
long before the time of Christ, horticulture was well established and capable of
producing food surpluses and offering areas for rest and relaxation. The general
principles of husbandry and marketing had been established. This knowledge and
skills were also developed in Asia especially in China and Japan and in the South
American civilisations (Swaminathan and Kochhar
1989
). Plants and their products
became traded commodities, were valued as means for environmental improvement
and as sources of medicine.
The economic and environmental significance of plants developed still further
during the Arabian (8th-13th century) era and into monastic and medieval periods.
In Europe by 15th century there was very active trade in the products of nursery-
men supplying grafted fruit trees. There were also needs for the regulation of the
trade which supplied fruit and vegetables into the developing towns and cities. For
example the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers of the City of London licensed their
liverymen with the rights as the sole traders within the City. Radical social changes
started with the British (17th-19th century) agricultural and subsequent industrial
revolutions. Huge numbers of people moved into the developing factory towns and
required food which the rural areas serviced aided by a developing railway network.
Progressive employers recognised the importance of rest and relaxation and that re-
sulted in the urban parks movement which progressed across Europe. The creation
of parks for use by the general public and even earlier as possessions prized by
wealthy landowners brought horticulture and the arts clearly into fruitful partner-
ships as described by Strong (
2000
). Landscapes began being viewed as works of
art in their own right.
Into the 20th and 21st centuries urbanisation has increased and now predomi-
nates in the modern world. Increasingly, food supplies particularly fresh fruit and
vegetables are becoming worldwide traded commodities. These reach the ultimate
retail consumer through huge multinational corporations known as supermarkets.
The challenge in this for horticulture comes in developing continuing capacities and
capabilities for effectively and safely managing food supply chains for an increas-
ing world population concentrated in ever larger urban conurbations. These popu-
lations demand not only sufficient food calories but also greater nutritional value,
interest and increasingly health benefits (Fig.
1.2
).
Additionally consumers demand that the plants are grown in a greener and more
sustainable economy. Chapters in this trilogy “Horticulture-Plants for People and
Places” discuss these issues (Dixon et al.
2014a
).
