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| Second Agricultural and Horticultural Society Show, 1845 |
Once here, settlers had to feed themselves in order to survive. They very quickly set up gardens and experimented to see what would, or would not, grow in the colony. Understanding the weather and learning the climate were essential if they were to be successful producers of food. Often it was the simple things that frustrated efforts. Initially, for example, the lack of infrastructure meant there were no fences and few materials to build them. Consequently livestock could not be constrained and gardens could not be protected. Pigs ruined many a crop. Nevertheless, good gardens were developed and by 1843 George MacEwin had written a gardening book to suit local conditions – and it was a good one too. By 1844, the Agricultural and Horticultural Society was formed, began to hold annual shows and was a forum for the sharing of knowledge.
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| George Stevenson |
George Stevenson had one of the first successful gardens in the colony. It was in North Adelaide. He approached horticulture in a scientific manner, carrying ourt careful experiments, keeping good records and sharing his results. George was 6ft 4in in height. He must have been an imposing figure. After a couple of years he brought out George MacEwin, mentioned above, to be his gardener. MacEwin had trained as a gardener working for the Duke of Buccleugh in Scotland. He then went to the Walton Nursery in Liverpool which was known for its innovative and scientific approach to horticulture.
