894 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Dec. 2, 1920. 



The Cultivation of Flowers for Profit* 



E. N. WARD, Superintendent, Uotanic Gardens, Sydney. 



The growing of flowers fur a living is a different proposition to the growing 

 of flowers in the garden for occasional sale. The latter only means making 

 one's garden in some measure pay for itself, but the former means the 

 cultivation of a piece of land large enough to produce successions of flowers 

 that will realise sufficient for the grower to live upon. For the cultivation 

 of flowers for a living, the land should be not less than 1 acre in extent; the 

 aspect must be a warm one, so that blooms may be produced in mid-winter : 

 the soil must be of such quality that it is not necessary to continually 

 manure it ; and permanent stand-pipes for spray irrigation must be in- 

 stalled so that water may be automatically reticulated over the whole area, 

 and the grower may be at liberty to devote the necessary time to cultivation 

 and marketing. The grower must practise the most economical way of 

 plant — not soil — feeding. This means liquid manuring, which necessitates 

 the placing of several large tubs in convenient places over the area, so that 

 when the plants need food the need may be quickly supplied. Quick means 

 of communication with buyers (the florists of some large town or city) is 

 also essential, and this implies the installation of a telephone. 



If the produce is of good quality only, there is a market for any quantity. 

 A few lines for which the soil and district are particularly suited are far 

 better than a lot of mixtures. For instance, it would be much wiser to grow 

 well one kind of carnation — growing it right through the winter until other 

 growers are producing carnations without effort — than to grow many kinds 

 indifferently. The Sydney suburbs are well suited for the production of 

 carnations, roses, antirrhinums, asters, stocks, dahlias, Iceland poppies, and 

 sweet peas, and it is better to grow these really well than to try to comi>ete 

 with growers in colder places in the production of violets, boronia. daffodils, 

 and primroses. 



As to culture — it is helpful to get into touch with more experienced 

 growers and to question them on such subjects as deep cultivation, the 

 feeding of the crop as distinct from the soil, and the advantages of good 

 seed. If possible, join some nearby branch of the Agricultural Bureau, and 

 discuss the problems there. 



To grow flowers in the garden for occasional sale and to compote to this 

 extent with those who depend entirely upon the growing of flowers for a 

 living, means obviously that one must produce flowers of the highest quality, 

 and even then there remains the task of finding a buyer. It is the regular 

 grower upon whom florists depend : casual growers are only considered when 

 they have something special to offer. 



