Newark, DE 19711 - University of Delaware Library Institutional ...

Garden beds were interplanted with herbaceous plants (vege-
tables, herbs, flowers) while grapevines and gourds covered fence-
lines. Apple, peach, cherry, apricot, and pear trees lined
fences or were grouped in small orchards to the rear of the lot.
Gooseberries or currants often marked the corners of the garden
beds, such as in the Triebel and Eberhardt lots.
The intent in planting family gardens was not so much to
.
provi+ aesthetically pleasing plant displays as it was to sus-
tain Moravian households with a diversity of plants for culinary,
medicinal, and industrial use. Even so, Moravians often sprinkled
some ornamental flowers (hollyhocks, hyacinths, daffodils,
amaranthus, cockscomb, roses, and lilacs) among the vegetables.
Gardens solely for the cultivation of flowering plants were not
prevalent until the mid-19th century.
d. Outlots
The Moravians clung to the practice of cultivating a field
or meadow outside of Salem. They grew crops, such as wheat,
potatoes, corn, and pumpkins, or grazed a dairy cow or horse in
this open space.
Three farms, called plantations, were established as
part of the congregation community with the mission of supplying
supplemental food for the town. However, the farm operations
were never successful and only provided the basic grains and
milk. Family gardens were still expected to yield enough vege-
tables and fruits for their owners.
The first boundaries of fields were zig-zag rail fences,
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