Final answer:
A society practicing horticulture focuses on small-scale, sustainable crop cultivation for local consumption, with a modest surplus. Extensive family labor is required, with limited scope for specialization due to the modest surplus generated. Some societies may develop more intensive methods, potentially leading to community specialization and accumulation of wealth.
Step-by-step explanation:
A food-producing society that practices horticulture can be described as one that engages in the small-scale cultivation of crops, primarily for consumption by the family and local community, with a modest amount of surplus. These societies tend to use traditional, sustainable farming techniques, including knowledge about intercropping, which involves planting compatible crops together to enhance each other's growth. For example, the "three sisters" method of planting corn, squash, and beans together optimizes plant health and yield. Horticultural societies often rely on extended family structures for the labor required to maintain their crops, and the surplus generated by their efforts may be stored for lean months or used for trading in local markets.
Horticultural societies are characterized by their ability to generate only a modest surplus, which is not typically enough to support a class of people who do not farm, such as full-time craftspeople or religious specialists. As a result, members of these societies may have to engage in farming alongside their specialized roles. However, if conditions allow, some societies may develop more intensive farming methods, leading to an agricultural surplus that can support specializations and foster stronger community organization. These developments can lead to the accumulation of local wealth and the establishment of permanent settlements with community leadership structures.