4(>8 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



idly growing taste for flowers and their culture, so plainly indicated by 

 the figures of this report. 



The statistics here given have been obtained direct from the florists 

 themselves in answer to questions sent them on special schedules, by per- 

 sonal visitation, and by the combined efforts of some of the florists' clubs. 

 The California State Floral society went so far as to aid in the good work 

 by appointing a special committee and making a careful canvass of the 

 whole state, and the census office investigations fully corroborate the 

 thoroughness of their work. 



The following table shows, by states, the number of florists' establish- 

 ments, number owned by women, largest and smallest greenhouse in each 

 state, total square feet of glass, area of land cultivated, value of tools and 

 implements, and total value of establishments. New Jersey, situated as it 

 is between the New York and Philadelphia city markets, makes the largest 

 showing of any state in the Union in proportion to its size. 



PRODUCTIONS AND SALES. 



In this investigation it was found unadvisable to attempt to ascertain 

 the number of plants propagated and sold of each variety, and therefore 

 the inquiries were grouped under three heads: roses, hardy plants and 

 shrubs, and all other plants, and under these heads most of the florists 

 were able to furnish a complete statement of their business. Roses, both 

 the plants and bloom, appear to be in the greatest demand. One firm 

 making a specialty of rose propagation reports having sold one million 

 plants in 1889. Their plants were mostly small ones, grown in 2^-inch 

 pots,- sent out by mail all over the country, and delivered promptly and in 

 good condition. 



Other florists make a specialty of the rose for the production of cut 

 flowers. Others, again, grow only carnations or violets, and wholesale 

 their productions to the retail florists in cities. Still others grow a variety 

 of both plants and cut flowers, and wholesale most of the entire product; 

 and, in fact, this is the business of nearly all the large establishments, 

 while the medium ones, of from 1,504 to 5,000 square feet of glass area, do 

 mostly local business, largely at retail, of both, plants and flowers. Many 

 of these florists also do a considerable business in the spring season in the 

 arrangement and planting of both public and private grounds, and espe- 

 cially is this the case with florists located near the summer resorts. 



Of the plants sold the demand in the northern and eastern states is 

 greatest for geraniums, coleus, roses, pansies, verbenas, heliotrope, car- 

 nations, chrysanthemums, palms, ferns, and fuchsias, nearly in the order 

 named. In the south the demand is for roses, chrysanthemums, geraniums, 

 coleus, palms, and ferns, while California shows the demand to be largest 

 for roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, geraniums, palms, and pansies. 

 There is also a very general and growing demand for aquatic plants, and 

 specialists are giving marked attention to this branch of the business. 

 Regarding cut-flower sales, reports show that, while there is a slight varia- 

 tion in the demands of the different markets, the greatest demand every- 

 where is for roses, followed closely by carnations. These two furnish 

 about 65 per cent, in value of all cut flowers sold. Violets, chrysanthe- 

 mums, lilies, hyacinths, smilax, bourvardia, heliotrope, pansies, and tulips, 

 in the order named, supply 25 per cent, more, while the other ten per cent, 

 is made of orchids, tuberoses, mignonette, primroses, "camellias, daffodils, 



