The “Hortillonnages”
In the foreground of the above photo is a “Hortillonage.” This is the local name for the tiny islets in the vicinity, whose rich black soil is generally cultivated as kitchen-gardens by men and women called “hortillons” or “hortillonnes.” These gardens are intersected by innumerable small canals fed by the Rivers Somme and Avre. The most important “hortillonnages” are at the east end of the town. Visiting is only possible in the long flat-bottomed boats with turned-up ends seen in the photo above.
Each morning in summer the boats go, loaded with fruit and vegetables, to the “floating market” of Amiens (photo below).