PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



CHAPTER I. 

 HOW TO BECOME A FLORIST. 



I am often asked the question if it is necessary in order 

 to become a florist to enter some large establishment 

 for a few years, or whether it is possible to learn 

 from reading only. I reply, if it can be afforded, it will 

 be best, by all means, to serve at least two years in 

 some well-conducted establishment one that has been 

 long enough established to have made the business a suc- 

 cess, for the best index of ability in any business is suc- 

 cess. I have said, if it can be afforded, as for the first 

 two years, unless a youth proves himself unusually smart, 

 he will not likely receive more than enough to pay his 

 board, for he is simply an apprentice under instructions, 

 who has come with the design of leaving when he has 

 acquired a knowledge of the trade, and just at the time 

 when he begins to be of use to his employer. 



But to those to whom it would be inconvenient to place 

 themselves thus under instructions, a knowledge of the 

 business could be unquestionably obtained from books, 

 particularly if actual practice were followed conjointly 

 with the reading. There are now thousands of my 

 patrons (about one tenth of whom are ladies), located in 

 nearly every State of the Union, who have worked them- 

 selves into the florists' business exclusively by reading 

 (9) 



