128 IN TEXAS AND THE SOUTH 



tions so to declare a dividend on the investment, even in 

 Gulf Coast localities. 



The varieties to be grown should include Pink and 

 White Enchantress, Enchantress Supreme, and Beacon. 

 Further trials on some of the newer kinds as they appear 

 will become a matter of test. 



The soil best adapted is well rotted turf, and rotted 

 manure, three parts of the former to one of the latter, 

 composted with some charcoal, and a little clay if the soil 

 is too porous in character. Drainage is most important, 

 and benches, with about 6 in. of soil, are advised. 



One grower bases his scale of profit on the following 

 statement: *' If I cannot put in my plants early enough 

 in this climate, so that I can commence cutting blooms in 

 December, I would not regard the flowering period to be 

 long enough to make it worth the while, for the usual warm 

 weather of Spring detracts from the vitality of the plants 

 and cuts off from a sufficiently long season at the latter 

 stage. The fact is that with a long season, the first buds, 

 usually with rather short stems, will bloom and after that 

 the plant seems to rest until the next lot of stems and buds 

 are grown out, and these are usually with the best stems 

 and better blooms, and so on. In measuring the length of 

 vitality to be expected, a long season of cool weather, 

 sufficient sunshine, with proper ventilation, and absence 

 from disease are the governing factors." 



The cost of growing, with oil for fuel, would be lower 

 in the Southern States than in States depending on coal. 

 The matter of express carriage would be eliminated, as 

 there would be the satisfaction of offering to the retail 

 trade blooms that were cut the same day. For these 

 reasons the Southern grower could command an advance 

 in prices over the grower of the North for the same quality 



