Horticulture

Horticulture is a branch of agriculture concerning the science and art of producing, managing, and cultivating plant. As opposed to agriculture, which deals with mass production of food crops, horticulture is more focused small scale planting. This includes fruits, vegetables, spices, ornamental plants or trees, herbs, nuts, mushrooms, flowers, sprouts, algae, seaweed, and grasses.

Divisions

Modern subsections of this field include:

• Pomology: the study of fruiting plants
• Olericulture: the science of growing vegetables
• Viticulture: the growing of wine grapes
• Floriculture: the practice and science of flower and ornamental plant growing
• Arboriculture: the practice and science of tree, shrubs, vine, and woody plant growing
• Post-Harvest Management: the processing, handling, packaging, and marketing of the horticultural products after they are harvested
• Environmental Horticulture: the science and care of plant growth in green spaces

Prominent Horticulturalists

• Liberty Hyde Bailey : American horticulturalist who confounded the American Society for Horticultural Science. Often referred to as the father of American horticulture
• Luther Burbank : Pioneering American botanist and horticulturist. Created 800 plant varieties over a 55 year career.
• William Hooker
• George Bentham
• Spencer Beach
• Joseph Hooker
• John Abercrombie
• Chris Baine
• Carolus Clusius
• Mary McMurtie