General Aspects of Commercial Gardening 3 



The Bulb Trade. Although a large proportion of the bulb trade is 

 undoubtedly Continental, there has been a magnificent effort on the part 

 of British and Irish growers to produce large quantities at home. While 

 such bulbs as Hyacinths and Tulips and Daffodils have been for genera- 

 tions a staple industry of the Dutch growers, signs are not wanting that 

 equally good bulbs can be grown in several places in the United Kingdom. 

 With the exception perhaps of Hyacinths, other bulbs of a hardy nature 

 might be grown more extensively. In the Channel Islands and the Scilly 

 Islands, in parts of Ireland and England, Tulip and Daffodil bulbs are 

 now grown on a large scale and of the finest quality, but the methods 

 of British growers in calling attention to their stocks are far inferior to 

 those adopted by the Dutch. The latter band themselves together for 

 mutual trade benefit, and make a point of encouraging visits to their 

 bulb farms every season. The trade practically commences in the spring, 

 when Dutch growers book orders from the visiting growers, and deliver 

 the goods as early in autumn as possible. During the summer months 

 from May to August their travellers invade the British Islands and 

 America, and push the bulb trade so well that they take home fine fat 

 orders for early autumn delivery. From September to December the 

 trade is brisk amongst retailers, while the market grower has already 

 boxed his bulbs of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocuses, Snowdrops, &c., 

 to secure an early Christmas and Easter trade. 



Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Crocuses are abundant from Christmas 

 to Easter; while Lilium longiflorum is now practically in season through- 

 out the year. Gladioli of the Colvillei and nanus sections are also useful 

 for spring work, while the Brenchleyensis, Childsi, and Nanceianus sections 

 come in for late summer or early autumn work. 



Apart from bulbs proper, such tuberous-rooted plants as Arum Lilies 

 are in great request from Christmas to Easter and Whitsuntide, the chief 

 trade being done in the blooms or spathes. 



Ixias, Freesias, Snowdrops, German, Spanish, and English Irises, 

 Tuberoses, Montbretias, Solomon's Seal, Crown Imperials, Herbaceous 

 Paeonies, Eucharis, Dahlias, &c., are amongst other bulbous and tuberous 

 plants that find a ready sale throughout the year at their own particular 

 season, for the cut-flower trade. Each group is dealt with in its proper 

 place in Vol. II of this work. 



Amongst retail nurserymen and bulb merchants other bulbous and 

 tuberous plants dealt in, as well as those mentioned, are Begonias, 

 Dicentras, Gloxinias, Hippeastrum, Leucojum, Chionodoxa, Scilla, Alstroe- 

 meria, Brodiaea, Brevoortia, Galtonia, Hsemanthus, Ranunculus, Winter 

 Aconite (Eranthis), Calochortus, Camassia, Colchicum, Erythronium or 

 Dog's Tooth Violet, Eremurus, Incarvillea, Ixiolirion, Lycoris, Milla or 

 Triieleia, Muscari or Grape Hyacinth, Ornithogalum or Star of Bethlehem, 

 and many others, including the Water Lilies or Nymphaeas which have 

 become popular of late years. Most of these are practically hardy, and 

 the trade in them is confined to nurserymen and hardy-plantsmen who 



