98 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 



Village plots granted to the Colonists in the begin- 

 ning were small, as was usual in village communities 

 in England. In 1637 the place belonging to Mr. 

 Roger Conant which was bought by the town for "old 

 Mr. Plase & wife" consisted of but half an acre. Yet 

 Conant was director of the Colony prior to Endicott's 

 arrival, and continued always prominent and highly 

 regarded. The size of his home lot may therefore 

 very reasonably be assumed to be a maximum allot- 

 ment. No one would be likely to have any more 

 land than he; the greater number would probably 

 have less. The requirements which regulated the size 

 of the plot were that it should afford room for the 

 dwelling and dopryard, the outbuildings, and the gar- 

 den, with perhaps a space for corn. No one needed 

 more than this — ^so none was allowed to have it. For 

 broader agricultural purposes there were common 

 fields, held by several together. In 1640 there were 

 in Salem ten groups of these associated proprietors 

 living in the town, who fenced their fields outside 

 the settlement in common. Fence "viewers," ap- 

 pointed in town meeting, looked after these com- 

 munity enclosures, each field having its special com- 

 mittee. 



More generous ideas seem to have prevailed, how- 

 ever, when Charlestown was under consideration by 

 ■Governor Winthrop, as the site of the "great towne" 



