South
Dakota Gardens - An Historical Vignette
On the contrary the
Arikara Indians, who followed the mound builders in the
eastern half of the state, were the first agriculturists
of record.
The Arikara Indians cultivated
food crops included corn in different varieties (meal,
flint, and sweetcorn), squashes, pumpkins, several varieties
of beans and sunflowers, and a tobacco of their own species.
They utilized native plants for both food and medicine.
Among the plants they adapted for food the tipisina or
Indian turnip, Buffalo berry, Juneberry, chokecherry,
sand cherry, wild plum, thorn apple, sheepberry, wild
grapes, and rose berry were used for food.
The Arikaras' experience and knowledge of the soil and
climate was ahead of its time. They practiced soil conservation,
diversified farming and were experts in preserving and
conserving food for the long winters.
Bibliography
and Acknowledgments
Shown: Pasque Flower ( Ppulsatilla
hirsutissima )
