Post by Okwes on Feb 28, 2007 11:35:22 GMT -5
Ozarks Fruit Review
By
Dec 20, 2006, 10:18:00
The home fruit grower who plants a strawberry, blueberry, pecan tree, or other native American fruit should take a few moments to reflect upon the first American fruit growers, the Native Americans. Much of modern-day fruit production has its roots in the heritage left by these original “home fruit growers.”
North America at the time of Columbus’ voyage was a natural orchard. More than 200 species of tree, vine, bush and small fruits were used by Native Americans. In addition, at least 50 kinds of nuts and a number of herbaceous fruits were important in Native American diets.
Most of the fruits used by the Native Americans were gathered from the wild. Raspberries, blackberries, dewberries and strawberries grew in abundance in sunny clearings in the forest. Wild grapes were common in every part of eastern America. Blueberries and cranberries were found in suitable areas.
Among the tree fruits, mulberries and persimmons were common throughout southern America. Plums, crab apples and wild cherries were important across all of eastern America. Pecans, walnuts, chestnuts, beechnuts and hazelnuts were also widespread. Grapes and small fruits were so abundant that they were seldom cultivated.
The tree fruits, however, were often planted near villages. Plum thickets mark the sites of many old villages.
After the arrival of the Europeans, apples and pea-ches were also cultivated by Native Americans. Peaches became so widespread across the south that early botanists considered them native to America. Even today wild peaches, called Indian peaches, are found in this area and are occasionally used as a source of rootstock seed.
Among the tribes that most developed fruit production in the east were the Iroquois in the northeast and the Cherokee in the southeast. Fruits and nuts were also important in the diets of western and southwestern tribes.
Wild plums, cherries, Juneberries, buffalo berries, brambles, wild grapes and rose haws were gathered from the wild and occasionally cultivated by plains tribes, notably the Mandan.
Fruit from cacti, such as prickly pear and saguaro, were gathered by southwestern Native Americans, as were the seeds of the piñon pine.
Native Americans used fruits in a number of ways. Fruit was eaten fresh and cooked in many ways. Fruits were also dried and pemmican, a mixture of dried meat, fat and dried fruits, was an important staple during the winter.
An excellent reference book, A History of Horticulture in America to 1860, by U.P. Hedrick (1988; Timber Press, Portland, Ore.) was the source of most of the information in this column. Home fruit producers interested in the contributions of Native Americans to American fruit production, as well as the history of American horticulture in general, will find this a fascinating read.
Questions concerning fruit production may be addressed to: Patrick Byers, fruit grower adviser, Missouri State University State Fruit Experiment Station, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mountain Grove, MO 65711.
By
Dec 20, 2006, 10:18:00
The home fruit grower who plants a strawberry, blueberry, pecan tree, or other native American fruit should take a few moments to reflect upon the first American fruit growers, the Native Americans. Much of modern-day fruit production has its roots in the heritage left by these original “home fruit growers.”
North America at the time of Columbus’ voyage was a natural orchard. More than 200 species of tree, vine, bush and small fruits were used by Native Americans. In addition, at least 50 kinds of nuts and a number of herbaceous fruits were important in Native American diets.
Most of the fruits used by the Native Americans were gathered from the wild. Raspberries, blackberries, dewberries and strawberries grew in abundance in sunny clearings in the forest. Wild grapes were common in every part of eastern America. Blueberries and cranberries were found in suitable areas.
Among the tree fruits, mulberries and persimmons were common throughout southern America. Plums, crab apples and wild cherries were important across all of eastern America. Pecans, walnuts, chestnuts, beechnuts and hazelnuts were also widespread. Grapes and small fruits were so abundant that they were seldom cultivated.
The tree fruits, however, were often planted near villages. Plum thickets mark the sites of many old villages.
After the arrival of the Europeans, apples and pea-ches were also cultivated by Native Americans. Peaches became so widespread across the south that early botanists considered them native to America. Even today wild peaches, called Indian peaches, are found in this area and are occasionally used as a source of rootstock seed.
Among the tribes that most developed fruit production in the east were the Iroquois in the northeast and the Cherokee in the southeast. Fruits and nuts were also important in the diets of western and southwestern tribes.
Wild plums, cherries, Juneberries, buffalo berries, brambles, wild grapes and rose haws were gathered from the wild and occasionally cultivated by plains tribes, notably the Mandan.
Fruit from cacti, such as prickly pear and saguaro, were gathered by southwestern Native Americans, as were the seeds of the piñon pine.
Native Americans used fruits in a number of ways. Fruit was eaten fresh and cooked in many ways. Fruits were also dried and pemmican, a mixture of dried meat, fat and dried fruits, was an important staple during the winter.
An excellent reference book, A History of Horticulture in America to 1860, by U.P. Hedrick (1988; Timber Press, Portland, Ore.) was the source of most of the information in this column. Home fruit producers interested in the contributions of Native Americans to American fruit production, as well as the history of American horticulture in general, will find this a fascinating read.
Questions concerning fruit production may be addressed to: Patrick Byers, fruit grower adviser, Missouri State University State Fruit Experiment Station, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mountain Grove, MO 65711.