Short answers, pulled from the story.
Horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants, typically on a smaller, non-industrial scale. It differs from agriculture through its emphasis on scientific methods, plant breeding, and technical cultivation practices, as well as its focus on controlled environments like greenhouses, whereas agriculture relies on large-scale field mechanization.
Horticulture began with the domestication of plants between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. Domestication occurred independently within various civilizations across the globe. In Europe, agriculture and horticulture diverged as distinct fields at some point during the Middle Ages.
The Ancient Society of York Florists, founded in 1768, is the oldest horticultural society in the world. It is based in York, England, and continues to host four horticultural shows annually.
Since 2013, CRISPR has been used in horticulture to enhance grains, fruits, and vegetables by increasing their resistance to parasites, disease, and drought, and by improving yield, nutrition, and flavour. It has also been used to reduce browning in potatoes and to address low pollination rates in greenhouses. Unlike genetically modified organisms, CRISPR does not add foreign DNA to the plant's genes.
The main divisions of horticulture include gardening, plant production and propagation, arboriculture, landscaping, floriculture, garden design and maintenance, turf maintenance, and plant conservation and landscape restoration. Each division requires highly specialized skills and knowledge.
Indigenous peoples of pre-colonized North America used biochar to enhance soil productivity by smoldering plant waste. European settlers called this dark, enriched soil Terra Preta de Indio. Indigenous North Americans also cultivated maize, squash, and sunflower, among other crops.