High-yielding sugar cane was introduced into Europe during the ninth century; cultivation was not successful. Supplies came instead from the Middle and Far East, through refining factories established there by Venetian merchants at this time and the tradition continued for several centuries. The expansion of world trade during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries encouraged the development of plantations in the New World, particularly the West Indies. Some South American countries now produce a significant proportion of the world's sugar and so does India.
Cultivation. Cultivation is an ancient vineyard practice. It destroys weeds and facilitates other vineyard operations such as irrigation. Contrary to common belief, cultivation does not conserve soil moisture; however, the resulting destruction of weeds does conserve moisture. Discs or chisel-tooth cultivators are used, although some vineyards are still plowed. Heavy disc harrows are used to turn under weeds and cover crops. Weeds have been cultivation centuries and are sometimes controlled with oil sprays or chemicals, usually diuron or monuron.
Olericulture is the branch of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of vegetables of all kinds, for salads or cooking.
Ornamental horticulture is concerned with the cultivation of plants for their aesthetic or decorative value and includes annual and perennial plants, shrubs, vines and trees.
High-yielding sugar cane was introduced into Europe during the ninth century; cultivation was not successful. Supplies came instead from the Middle and Far East, through refining factories established there by Venetian merchants at this time and the tradition continued for several centuries. The expansion of world trade during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries encouraged the development of plantations in the New World, particularly the West Indies. Some South American countries now produce a significant proportion of the world's sugar and so does India.