^Evolution of Ibortfculture 



movement towards the west. Even pre- 

 vious to this period, Plymouth had sent 

 emissaries to Connecticut River for dis- 

 covery and trade, who on return reported 

 "a fine place for plantation and trade." 

 Later, among the Massachusetts planta- 

 tions, intelligence arrived of the fertility 

 of that region, which induced in many 

 the wish to transplant themselves from 

 the less productive soil upon which they 

 had settled at first. Especially was this 

 plan entertained by the inhabitants of 

 Roxbury, Dorchester, Watertown, and 

 Newtown. The principal reasons given 

 for removal were: "i. Their want of 

 accommodation for their cattle. . . . 



2. The fruitfulness and commodiousness 

 of Connecticut, and the danger of having 

 it possessed by others, Dutch or English. 



3. The strong bent of their spirits to re- 

 move thither." 1 There is little direct 

 mention of horticultural work in which 

 the early settlements in the Connecticut 



1 Winthrop, History of New England, vol. i., p. 

 140. 



100 



