466 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



AGRICULTURE.— FLORICULTURE. 



Bulletin No. 59. 



As an industry floriculture has been for the first time made a subject of 

 census investigation, and herein is presented a preliminary report thereon, 

 prepared by Mr. J. H. Hale, special agent, under the direction of Mr. 

 Mortimek Whitehead, special agent in charge of the Division of Agri- 

 culture " B " of this office. The material from which these statistics are 

 compiled was obtained direct from the florists upon schedules specially 

 prepared for that purpose and by personal visits of special agents to flor- 

 ists 1 establishments in all parts of the country. These figures are subject 

 to revision before publication in the final report. 



It will be noted that while floriculture has been carried on as a business 

 in this country for upward of one hundred years, it is only within the past 

 twenty-five years that it has assumed large proportions. Out of a total of 

 4,659 establishments 2,795 were started between 1870 and 1890, and of 

 these 1,797 between 1880 and 1890. There are 312 commercial floriculture 

 establishments owned and managed by women. These 4,659 establish- 

 ments had in use in the census year 38,823,247 square feet of glass, cover- 

 ing a space of more than 891 acres of ground. The establishments, 

 including fixtures and heating apparatus, were valued at $38,355,722.43; 

 tools and implements, $1,587,693.93, and gave employment to 16,847 men 

 and 1,958 women, who earned in the year $8,483,657. Fuel for heating 

 cost $1,160,152.66. The products for the year were 49,056,253 rose bushes, 

 38,380,872 hardy plants and shrubs, while all other plants amounted to 

 152,835,292, reaching a total value of $12,036,477.76 for plants. Cut flowers 

 brought an additional income of $14,175,328.01. 



From the tabulations in the bulletin it appears that the largest number 

 of square feet of glass in one establishment in the United States is in the 

 District of Columbia; the oldest establishment was started in New York; 

 the largest number of roses propagated were, respectively, in Pennsyl- 

 vania, Illinois, and Ohio; the largest number of hardy plants propagated 

 were, respectively, in Illinois, New York, and Kansas; the largest total 

 value of plant sales were, respectively, in New York, Pennsylvania, and 

 California, and the largest total value of cut-flower sales were, respectively, 

 in New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. 



In addition to the Society of American Florists, 965 state and local floral 

 societies and clubs and 358 horticultural societies, aided by the agricul- 

 tural and horticultural press, helped to develop this industry to its present 

 large proportions. 



Robeet P. Porter, 



Superintendent of Census. 



