Who Shall Grow Carnations 



advice, so that she is already committed to her project before the probability 

 of success or failure can be discussed. The best advice is given, and she 

 is furnished with plants in the best possible condition, replaced, perhaps, once 

 or twice, as they are lost through improper treatment. She struggles hope- 

 fully and bravely on for, perhaps, two or three years, only to learn that the 

 well-equipped florist, but a few blocks away, has such superior facilities for 

 the growing, and especially the selling of flowers, that she has but a slender 

 chance to make even a moderate margin of profit ; and, finally, becoming 

 discouraged, she gives up the venture. 



Another example is the broker, who has struck it rich in Manhattan 

 Elevated, American Iron and Steel, or reaped a colossal fortune by engineer- 

 ing the combination of enormous interests, and who, finding himself replete 

 with wealth, expresses his desire to do something with his accumulations by 

 laying out a generously planned country seat, and building thereon a sumptu- 

 ous establishment, with palatial glass structures in which he designs to 

 grow exotic flowers and fruits to gratify his new-born tastes. Within a 

 few years, the contemplation of the large expense account, which neces- 

 sarily accompanies such luxvirious surroundings, awakens a vein of retrench- 

 ment and economy, and he begins considering how he can manage his 

 estate, and make it support a portion of its financial burden. One of the 

 first problems he is likely to tackle will be the extensive greenhouse establish- 

 ment ; and his faithful and enthusiastic gardener will generally be able to 

 figure, to his employer's satisfaction, munificent profits, based upon the prices 

 which he is obliged to pay to the Broadway or Fifth avenue florist for the 

 selected fancy blooms bought only during the holiday season, when the 

 supply from his own greenhouses is not sufficient to cover his requirements 

 in the way of remembering his friends. He tarries not long in arriving at a 

 decision. He will grow either carnations, roses, or orchids. He usually con- 

 siders this question late in the season. There is no time to fill the houses 

 with roses ; and orchids must be left until the following spring, so he falls, 

 naturally, into growing carnations, even if only for the present, until time 

 is afforded to prepare for the other and more expensive stock. Price-lists 

 are hurriedly sent for; a stock of field-grown plants, consisting of a wide 

 range of varieties, is purchased from various growers ; soil is hastily gath- 

 ered together ; the benches are filled ; the plants arrive ; the planting is pushed 

 forward with energy ; and within a space of perhaps six to eight weeks the 

 place has bloomed forth into a full-fledged commercial florist's establishment. 

 Expensive help is employed ; the newest and latest fads in the way of car- 

 nation supports and other paraphernalia are purchased ; and the proprietor 



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