44 Introduction to Horticulture

Horticulture is the art or practice of garden cultivation and management. Horticulture involves cultivating, growing and marketing produce. This requires an understanding of numeracy, measurements and geometry. An example would be calculating spacing, and how much to purchase.

Measuring tools in horticulture are very similar to culinary measuring tools, but of course used very differently. Similar tools used are: scales, measuring cups, and thermometers.

Here are some different tools used specifically for horticulture:

• Fruit Sizing Caliper – allows grower to assess the fruits health and yield estimation.
• Rain Gauge – measures the amount of precipitation in a certain area over a certain amount of time.
• Hand Refractometer – A refractometer allows you to accurately measure the percentage of sugar or Brix in any liquid with just 2 or 3 drops. The higher the Brix%, the sweeter the fruit or concentration is. Brix levels are a measurement of plant sugars, mineral and vitamin content.
• Tree Caliper – used to measure the ‘breast height’ (approx. 4.5 feet) diameter of a tree. This helps a horticulturist understand information needed for crown competition, stocking levels, and forest health.