BULLETINS OF THE ELEVENTH CENSUS. ■ 467 



COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE. 

 BY J. H. HALE. 



While flowers and flowering plants were grown for sale to a very limited 

 extent in this country one hundred years ago, the business of the commer- 

 cial florist has made the greater part of its development during the past 

 twenty-five years, and the larger proportion of this business the past ten 

 years. 



After inquiry of every florist in the United States, the report indicates 

 that there was but 1 commercial florist in the year 1800, and only 3 estab- 

 lishments started between 1810 and 1820; 8 more were started in the next 

 decade, 25 in the next, followed by 45 between 1840 and 1850, 96 between 

 1850 and 1860, 313 between 1860 and 1870, 998 between 1870 and 1880, and 

 1,797 between 1880 and 1890. 



The dates of establishment in business of 72 per cent, of the florists have 

 been traced, and judging from these it will be seen that 80 per cent, of the 

 whole business has been developed during the past twenty-five years. The 

 business being of so comparatively recent development, and never before 

 having been brought within the scope of census statistics, there have nat- 

 urally been many obstacles in the way of making a oomplete report. The 

 florists have generally responded with remarkable clearness, and while 

 some have not given all the information desired, and a few have failed to 

 respond even to many repeated requests, it is believed that the figures 

 given fairly represent the business at the present time. 



Floral establishments were found in every state and territory except 

 Idaho, Nevada, Indian territory, and Oklahoma, and while there is a possi- 

 bility that there may be some small establishments in those places the 

 most careful inquiry has failed to find them thus far. In the United 

 States there were 4,659 floral establishments in the census year, 312 of 

 which were owned and conducted by women. The total feet of glass in use 

 in all these establishments was 38,823,247, and the establishments, includ- 

 ing fixtures and heating apparatus, were valued at $38,355,722.43. The 

 value of tools and implements used was $1,587,693.93. There were 

 employed 16,847 men and 1,958 women, the combined annual wages 

 amounting to $8,483,657. Fuel cost was $1,160,152.66. 3,425,600 whole- 

 sale and 17,630,094 retail catalogues are annually issued, while $767,438.21 

 was paid for postage, $1,161,168.31 for advertising, $534,221.86 for freight, 

 and $554,390.55 for express bills. 



The total products were 49,056,253 roses, 38,380,872 hardy plants and 

 shrubs, and 152,835,292 of all other plants, the value of which was $12,- 

 036,477.76, and cut flowers to the amount of $14,175,328.01 were reported 

 as sold. 



The greatest area of glass in any one establishment reported was 150,- 

 000 square feet and the smallest 60 square feet, the latter a cosy attach- 

 ment to the sitting room of a New England farm house, from which the 

 lady of the house sells annually $35 to $50 worth of plants and flowers. 



There are in the United States 965 state and local floral societies and 

 clubs, besides the Society of American Florists, and to these and the 

 more than 358 horticultural societies, combined with the educational influ- 

 ences of the agricultural and horticultural press, is largely due the rap- 



