464: 



HORTICULTURE 



November 9, 1918 



SEED TRADE 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOCIATION 



Officers— President, F. W. Bolgiano, 

 Washington, D. C; First Vice-President, 

 Wm. G. Scarlett. Baltimore, Md.; Second 

 Vice-President, David Burpee, Philadel- 

 phia, Pa.; Secretary-Treasurer, C. E. 

 Kendel, Clereland, O. 



Development of the American Seed- 

 Growing Industry. 



Since the European sources of vege- 

 table seed have been cut off by war 

 conditions, the seed-growing industry 

 in the United States has made rapid 

 developments, particularly in the Pa- 

 cific Coast and Rocliy Mountain 

 States, according to a report of the 

 Bureau of Crop Estimates, United 

 States Department of Agriculture. The 

 commercial production of vegetable 

 seeds is chiefly confined to a few wide- 

 ly separated but well-defined districts, 

 but in exceptional instances the indus- 

 try has been introduced into new sec- 

 tions through the efforts of contract- 

 ing seedsmen who have sought to ex- 

 pand the production by entering new 

 areas. 



The production of onion seed is car- 

 ried on in many localities. Most of 

 the western districts where onions are 

 ■grown tor market also raise seed for 

 their own use and sell the surplus. 

 The largest section of production for 

 onion seed, however, is known as the 

 "river district" of the San Joaquin 

 and Sacramento Valleys in the central 

 part of California. The district of 

 secondary importance as a producer 

 of onion seed is the San Juan and 

 Santa Clara Valley region of central 

 California. The leading county in 

 the production of onion seed is San 

 Joaquin, with Sacramento, Yolo. Con- 

 tra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Beni- 

 to also growing a good volume. Seed 

 is also being produced in Delta Coun- 

 ty, Colo. The Bermuda onion seed is 

 produced in the Coachelia Valley, in 

 the eastern part of Riverside County 

 in southern California. It is also suc- 

 cessfully grown in New Mexico and 

 Arizona. 



Carrot Seed in California 



California is the largest producer of 

 carrot seed. Sacramento and Yolo 

 Counties rank first, with San Joaquin, 

 Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San 

 Benito Counties ranking as minor pro- 

 ducers. In the production of radish 

 seed the situation is reversed, the 

 coast counties of California produc- 

 ing the bulk of the crop, and the river 

 district being unimportant as a pro- 



IVI/KKI 



•ROFIT 



These three words on a sign stand out very conspicuously on the 

 wall in the office of the head of a large department store in Philadel- 

 phia. 



The sentence is short, but it means so much! Yes, more than 

 most of us in business stop to realize. 



Many fiorists today are basing their selling-prices of Cut Flowers, 

 Plants, and for services rendered, on olden-time costs. Conditions 

 have changed, labor has advanced, hours have been shortened, de- 

 livery service by automobile in many cases has been forced upon you 

 — everything that enters into the conduct of your business (including 

 everything you buy to sell again, such as Seeds, Bulbs, Pots, Supplies, 

 etc.), costs very much more. 



Look at the 'price of Coal! Wax Paper costs now just double 

 what it did twelve months ago. Cotton Twine in three years has in- 

 creased about five times its former value. In fact, we could go on 

 in an endless citation of things like this. 



Have you increased your selling-prices — for Plants, Cut Flowers, 

 P\ineral Designs, and labor performed for your customers? If not, 

 why not? 



Every florist knows the cost of everything he buys; he should 

 also know the cost (and he can easily figure it) of everything he 

 grows himself and the cost of any labor he performs, and add a fair 

 profit for his services. The public does not want to be squeezed, but 

 it is always willing to pay a fair price tor anything it wants. In every 

 line (except the Horticultural Industry) unheard-of prosperity is 

 being enjoyed, and that same prosperity is right at hand for the florist. 



One of our representatives was recently in the retail store of a 

 florist, when a prospective customer came in and asked the price of 

 funeral designs, whereupon he was informed that this ranged from 

 $2.50 up to $5.00, (and it was in a town that is doing an enormous 

 volume of war work). The prospective customer walked out without 

 leaving an order. And why? 



The price quoted appealed to the buyer as too low. He wanted 

 something better than what was offered, and he was willing to pay 

 for it, which he did elsewhere later in the same town. Imagine the 

 folly of quoting such a price! and Cut Flowers at the premium they 

 have been for weeks. That florist didn't stop to think that Tin Foil 

 costs double. Wire costs about three times its normal value; Twine 

 costs five times its normal value; Paper costs twice its normal value. 



Some florists are still selling Geraniums in a four-inch Pot (and 

 the Flower Pot goes with it) for 10c. 



They think they can't get more than 12c. or 15c. for an Easter 

 Lily Flower or a Hyacinth. 



Man, it costs you more than that to grow these items, so don't 

 figure that you've made a profit — you have actually lost money, and 

 the quicker you realize it, the better. 



Mr. Florist, this little article has been written in your interests. 

 If you want to make a profit, — be able to pay your bills when due, — 

 make a living and be able to lay something aside for a rainy day, 

 which is your just due. 



"charge fair prices — MAKE A PROFIT." 

 START TO-DAY-NOW. 



MicHELi.'s Seed Hou.se, Philadelphia, pa. 



ducer. It is also grown in the Pacific 

 Northwest. Beet seed is grown in 

 both the river and coast districts of 

 California, but is probably grown more 

 extensively around Sacramento than 

 in any other portion of the State. Let- 

 tuce seed is grown almost exclusively 

 near the coast sections of California, 

 particularly in Santa Clara and San 

 Benito Counties and also in San Louis 

 Obispo County. 



The production of seed of the gar- 

 den varieties of beans is concentrated 

 in portions of Colorado, California. 

 Washington and Idaho. The Greely 

 district of Colorado is the leading dis- 

 trict. Lima-bean seed growing is con- 

 fined to the coast counties of Southern 

 California. Cantaloupe and cucumber 

 seed is produced extensively in Colo- 



rado, particularly in the Rocky Ford 

 district of the Arkansas Valley. To- 

 mato seed is most extensively pro- 

 duced in Orange County, Cal., south 

 of Santa Ana. Other seed crops pro- 

 duced in this district are peppers and 

 various vine crops. The principal cab- 

 bage-seed growing district is in the 

 Puget Sound country, but the grow- 

 ing of cabbage seed is being tried out 

 in other localities and new districts 

 of importance may be developed. This 

 statement also applies to turnip seed. 

 Spinach seed is produced in Califor- 

 nia and in the Northwest. During the 

 past season the industry has devel- 

 oped, particularly in Yolo and Sacra- 

 mento Counties of California, but is 

 not confined to that region. Other 

 miscellaneous seeds of minor impor- 



