60 PACKING, SHIPPING AND BUSINESS MATTERS 



to run out his competitor by selling goods below cost. 

 This, with the improper extension of credits, has ruined 

 more business houses than any other cause. 



*' Treat your customers fairly and liberally. When 

 shipping your customers an invoice of flowers or plants, 

 imagine yourself in his place and w^hat you would think if 

 you should receive the same at the same price you are 

 receiving for them and packed in the same manner as you 

 are packing them. By keeping this in mind, and treating 

 them as you would wish to be treated, you will retain your 

 trade as well as the goodw^ill of your customers. The best 

 way to retain your customers' goodwill is alw^ays to send 

 first-class goods so packed that they will arrive in fine 

 condition. 



" Aim to produce a high grade article and sell it at a 

 fair price and a fair profit. Remember that in growing 

 plants and flowers there is always plenty of room at the top, 

 while the lower ranks are always crowded. In growing 

 cut flowers for market, aim to send fine, long-stemmed 

 blooms neatly bunched, with some foliage in the bunch. 

 In bunching, tie the stems close to the butts so that the 

 flowers will fall gracefully apart when the bunch is held 

 up. In packing flowers, wrap the butts of the stems in 

 damp sphagnum moss and wind soft paper around the 

 moss, packing the bunches upon soft paper cushions so 

 that the flowers may not bruise. Use clean, neat boxes 

 to pack in. The neater your flowers open out on the 

 market the quicker they will sell, and if your flowers open 

 up uniformly fresh and in attractive shape you will make a 

 reputation for superior stock and eventually get the highest 

 market prices. Try to send a fair quantity of first class 

 stock upon the market every da\\ Do not suddenly flood 

 your commission man with a large quantity of perishable 



