Four Square Garden

Four Square Garden. . European immigrants brought the age-old concept of four square gardens to America. The dense prairie sod and the clay-filled soil had its limitations for growing plants. The garden design is simple - four squares with intersecting paths, the size determined by the gardener and the available land. Each square is a raised bed formed by wooden borders. This provides the soil with good drainage, aeration and allows it to warm up quicker. , , Settlers grew a variety of plants in their gardens. Vegetables such as peas, beans, lettuce, radishes and carrots provided food for their table. Dill, rosemary and parsley were some of the herbs used as seasonings. Other plants such as stinging nettle and sage were used for medicinal purposes. There was usually a fence around the whole garden to keep out any hungry animals. , , Horseradish , Early settlers brought horseradish to North America and began cultivating it in the colonies; commercial cultivation began in America in the mid-1850s when immigrants started horseradish farms in the Midwest. , , Medicinal Plants , Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare know to humans. Herbs have been used by all cultures through the ages. Much of the medical use of plants seems to have been developed through observations of wild animals, and trial and error. Many drugs commonly used today are of herbal origin. Indeed about 25% of the prescription drugs in the United States contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material. Some are made from plant extracts; others are synthesized to mimic a natural plant compound. Undisputedly, the history of herbology is intertwined with that of modern medicine. Salicylic acid, a precursor of aspirin, was originally, derived from white willow. Cinchona is the source of malaria fighting quinine. , , The Pharmaceutical Era , Pharmaceuticals became popular during the 19th century when improvements in chemical analysis techniques allowed scientists to isolate and extract beneficial plant compounds. In contrast, traditional use of medicinal plants involves utilizing an entire portion of the plant like the root or leaf, rather than extracting a single component. Pharmaceuticals also go through extensive testing before being available to the public, but scientists report more side effects with pharmaceuticals than medicinal plants. Although less scientific evidence exists for the effectiveness of medicinal plants, research interest and investment is increasing.