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History of Early American Landscape Design

Difference between revisions of "Meadow"

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==History==
 
==History==
  
According to lexicographer Noah Webster  
+
According to lexicographer Noah Webster (1828), meadow referred “to the low ground on the banks of rivers . . . whether grassland, pasture, tillage, or wood land,” or low-lying lands that were particularly “appropriated to the culture of grass.” Both definitions of the term “meadow” were used in the American context.  
(1828), meadow referred “to the low ground  
 
on the banks of rivers . . . whether grassland,  
 
pasture, tillage, or wood land,” or low-lying  
 
lands that were particularly “appropriated to  
 
the culture of grass.” Both definitions of the  
 
term “meadow” were used in the American  
 
context.  
 
  
Eighteenth-century maps of New York and  
+
Eighteenth-century maps of New York and Boston show “salt meadows” along rivers. Like kitchen gardens or orchards, meadows played a key role in early American husbandry, and descriptive accounts of productive farms and estates often mention meadows, particularly when they gave the landscape a rich or well-cultivated appearance. Meadows ranged in size from the 12-acre meadow noted in a 1747 newspaper advertisement to the estimated 50 acres of meadow attached to an estate in Pennsylvania. In an 1807 plan of South Union, Ohio, a meadow was located in close proximity to the residences and between areas designated as woods and a cornfield [Fig. 1]. Since meadows were largely covered with grass, they could provide sustenance for cattle. Indeed, A. J. Downing, in describing the benefits of parks, frequently instructed homeowners to regard them as meadows where their cattle could graze. The cultivation of grass rendered “meadow” synonymous with “pasture,” which Webster defined as grounds covered with grass appropriated for the food of cattle, and hence these terms frequently were used interchangeably.
Boston show “salt meadows” along rivers. Like  
 
kitchen gardens or orchards, meadows played a  
 
key role in early American husbandry, and  
 
descriptive accounts of productive farms and  
 
estates often mention meadows, particularly  
 
when they gave the landscape a rich or well-
 
cultivated appearance. Meadows ranged in size  
 
from the 12-acre meadow noted in a 1747  
 
newspaper advertisement to the estimated 50  
 
acres of meadow attached to an estate in Pennsylvania.  
 
In an 1807 plan of South Union, Ohio,  
 
a meadow was located in close proximity to the  
 
residences and between areas designated as  
 
  
woods and a cornfield [Fig. 1]. Since meadows
+
Although meadows were primarily associated with agricultural production, they were often part of a consciously designed landscape, as at “Newington,” Pa. [Fig. 2]. They were also included in plans for plantations and ornamental farms (see Ferme ornée). Eighteenth-century British gardening treatises, for example, endorsed the incorporation of agricultural features into ornamental contexts: Batty Langley (1728) recommended “Little Walks by purling streams in Meadows” as “delightful Entertainments.”  
were largely covered with grass, they could
 
provide sustenance for cattle. Indeed, A. J.
 
Downing, in describing the benefits of parks,
 
frequently instructed homeowners to regard
 
them as meadows where their cattle could
 
graze. The cultivation of grass rendered
 
“meadow” synonymous with “pasture,”  
 
which Webster defined as grounds covered
 
with grass appropriated for the food of cattle,
 
and hence these terms frequently were used
 
interchangeably.
 
  
Although meadows were primarily associated
+
In many instances, meadows accomplished the same aesthetic results as lawns, including framing desired objects or views. At the eighteenth-century estate of West-over on the James River in Virginia, for example, meadows watered by canals lined the road leading to the mansion and signaled one’s arrival to the “improved grounds” surrounding the house. According to François-Alexandre-Frédéric duc de la Rochefoucauld Liancourt (1799), Dr. Baron of Charleston, S.C., wanted to buy an area of flat land between his garden and the river to convert it to a meadow that could frame views of the distant prospect. Pierre Pharoux, in his plan for Baron von Steuben’s estate in Mohawk Valley, N.Y., likewise used meadows carved out of woods to ensure visual access to the prospect [Fig. 3].  
with agricultural production, they were
 
often part of a consciously designed landscape,
 
as at “Newington,” Pa. [Fig. 2]. They
 
were also included in plans for plantations
 
and ornamental farms (see Ferme ornée).  
 
Eighteenth-century British gardening treatises,  
 
for example, endorsed the incorporation
 
of agricultural features into ornamental contexts:
 
Batty Langley (1728) recommended
 
“Little Walks by purling streams in Meadows”
 
as “delightful Entertainments.
 
  
In many instances, meadows accomplished
+
Meadows were closely related to parks and lawns; Downing on occasion referred to “meadow parks” and “meadow-lawns” (see Lawn and Park). Nevertheless, in at least one article in the Horticulturist, he distinguished between lawns and meadows, arguing that lawns were composed of firm, close, and short grass, while coarser (and presumably taller) grasses with meadow flowers made up meadows. Moreover, lawns were often trimmed and rolled to maintain their appearance, while the primary method of maintaining meadows was to allow animals to graze.  
the same aesthetic results as lawns,
 
including framing desired objects or views.
 
At the eighteenth-century estate of West-
 
over on the James River in Virginia, for
 
example, meadows watered by canals lined
 
the road leading to the mansion and signaled
 
one’s arrival to the “improved
 
grounds” surrounding the house. According
 
to François-Alexandre-Frédéric duc de la
 
Rochefoucauld Liancourt (1799), Dr. Baron
 
of Charleston, S.C., wanted to buy an area of
 
flat land between his garden and the river to
 
convert it to a meadow that could frame
 
views of the distant prospect. Pierre
 
Pharoux, in his plan for Baron von Steuben’s
 
estate in Mohawk Valley, N.Y., likewise used
 
meadows carved out of woods to ensure
 
visual access to the prospect [Fig. 3].  
 
  
Meadows were closely related to parks
+
Like lawns and bowling greens, the open grassy areas of meadows also provided space for sports and other leisure entertainments, as mentioned by a teacher in Salem, N.C., in 1817, who observed children playing round ball in the meadow of a tavern.  
and lawns; Downing on occasion referred to
 
“meadow parks” and “meadow-lawns” (see
 
Lawn and Park). Nevertheless, in at least one
 
article in the Horticulturist, he distinguished between lawns and meadows, arguing that
 
lawns were composed of firm, close, and
 
short grass, while coarser (and presumably
 
taller) grasses with meadow flowers made
 
up meadows. Moreover, lawns were often
 
trimmed and rolled to maintain their
 
appearance, while the primary method of  
 
maintaining meadows was to allow animals
 
to graze.  
 
  
Like lawns and bowling greens, the open
+
-- ''Anne L. Helmreich''
grassy areas of meadows also provided
 
space for sports and other leisure entertainments,
 
as mentioned by a teacher in Salem,
 
N.C., in 1817, who observed children playing
 
round ball in the meadow of a tavern.
 
 
 
ALH
 
  
 
==Texts==
 
==Texts==

Revision as of 15:28, February 2, 2016

History

According to lexicographer Noah Webster (1828), meadow referred “to the low ground on the banks of rivers . . . whether grassland, pasture, tillage, or wood land,” or low-lying lands that were particularly “appropriated to the culture of grass.” Both definitions of the term “meadow” were used in the American context.

Eighteenth-century maps of New York and Boston show “salt meadows” along rivers. Like kitchen gardens or orchards, meadows played a key role in early American husbandry, and descriptive accounts of productive farms and estates often mention meadows, particularly when they gave the landscape a rich or well-cultivated appearance. Meadows ranged in size from the 12-acre meadow noted in a 1747 newspaper advertisement to the estimated 50 acres of meadow attached to an estate in Pennsylvania. In an 1807 plan of South Union, Ohio, a meadow was located in close proximity to the residences and between areas designated as woods and a cornfield [Fig. 1]. Since meadows were largely covered with grass, they could provide sustenance for cattle. Indeed, A. J. Downing, in describing the benefits of parks, frequently instructed homeowners to regard them as meadows where their cattle could graze. The cultivation of grass rendered “meadow” synonymous with “pasture,” which Webster defined as grounds covered with grass appropriated for the food of cattle, and hence these terms frequently were used interchangeably.

Although meadows were primarily associated with agricultural production, they were often part of a consciously designed landscape, as at “Newington,” Pa. [Fig. 2]. They were also included in plans for plantations and ornamental farms (see Ferme ornée). Eighteenth-century British gardening treatises, for example, endorsed the incorporation of agricultural features into ornamental contexts: Batty Langley (1728) recommended “Little Walks by purling streams in Meadows” as “delightful Entertainments.”

In many instances, meadows accomplished the same aesthetic results as lawns, including framing desired objects or views. At the eighteenth-century estate of West-over on the James River in Virginia, for example, meadows watered by canals lined the road leading to the mansion and signaled one’s arrival to the “improved grounds” surrounding the house. According to François-Alexandre-Frédéric duc de la Rochefoucauld Liancourt (1799), Dr. Baron of Charleston, S.C., wanted to buy an area of flat land between his garden and the river to convert it to a meadow that could frame views of the distant prospect. Pierre Pharoux, in his plan for Baron von Steuben’s estate in Mohawk Valley, N.Y., likewise used meadows carved out of woods to ensure visual access to the prospect [Fig. 3].

Meadows were closely related to parks and lawns; Downing on occasion referred to “meadow parks” and “meadow-lawns” (see Lawn and Park). Nevertheless, in at least one article in the Horticulturist, he distinguished between lawns and meadows, arguing that lawns were composed of firm, close, and short grass, while coarser (and presumably taller) grasses with meadow flowers made up meadows. Moreover, lawns were often trimmed and rolled to maintain their appearance, while the primary method of maintaining meadows was to allow animals to graze.

Like lawns and bowling greens, the open grassy areas of meadows also provided space for sports and other leisure entertainments, as mentioned by a teacher in Salem, N.C., in 1817, who observed children playing round ball in the meadow of a tavern.

-- Anne L. Helmreich

Texts

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Citations

Images

Notes

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