CUT -FLOWERS 



for the market, and enabled him to devote his entire at- 

 tention to cultivation. From this period, the business 

 began its most rapid development, as the more con- 

 venient location of the flower stores in the populous 

 centers induced a better patronage and conseqtient love 

 for flowers, and enabled the grower, by reason of his uu- 

 divitlrd aiti'ii! i<.ii, to pnMlu<-r mnn- i>ri-foct stock and in- 



CUT- FLOWERS 



419 





It w;(s si.,,11 t*..ini.l that liy .uMviii- ait.-ntion to but one 

 kind of lluwcr, bcitL-r results wcru obtained, and many 

 rose, violet, and carnation specialists were developed. 

 The success of one grower often induced his neighbors 

 to follow his example. Two or three successful men in 

 a locality gave rumor to the place being, by reason of 

 its soil, climate, etc., particularly adapted for the pro- 

 duction of a certain flower, and a colony of such grow- 

 ers would soon spring up. Note the violet growers of 

 the Hudson, in New York ; the rosarians of Madison, 

 N. J., and the carnation belt of Chester county, Pa. As 

 the business has developed and grown all over the 

 United States, it has been found that it is not so much 

 in the locality as in the methods of culture that success 

 is attained. With the great expansion of the industry, 

 the handling of the large quantities of flowers thrown 

 on the market became a dilVnult prnl^lrio. The Thirty- 

 fourth St. cut-flower marker, in X.-w Vurk, "i-JKinated 

 from the retail dealers meeting tin- Lnug Island grow- 

 ers every morning at the ferry. Aconvenif^nt restaurant 

 opened its doors during inclement weather, where for 

 years a large business was carried on. An association 

 of growers was Anally formed, which established, in an 

 adjoining commodious building, a market, which has 

 since been very successful and a great convenience to 

 both branches of the trade. 



The wholesale handling of flowers on commission was 

 commenced in New York city in 1878, by J. K.Allen. This 

 plan soon became popular, numerous houses were es- 

 tablished, and the stock coming to the New York mar- 

 ket, particularly that of the large growers, is mainly 

 disposed of through these channels. The excellence of 

 the flowers supplied and the better market of the large 

 cities caused a considerable shipping demand, which 

 provided a much-needed outlet for the immense quanti- 

 ties of stock that at times were greatly in excess of the 

 local needs. With the present complete shipping facili- 

 ties, together with the improved methods of packing. 

 Cut-flowers are now shipped long distances, arriving at 

 their destination in a satisfactory condition after jour- 

 neys of from 36 to -18 hours' duration. 



The final distribution of the flowers through the ave- 

 nues of the retail florist engages a considerable num- 

 ber of men in all the large cities of the country. Many 

 of the establishments compare favorably with the finest 

 stores of other lines, while the delivery service, with its 

 fancy wagons and liveried attendants, is especially nota- 

 ble. Great attention is paid to the decorative features 

 of these high-class establishments. Their show win- 

 dows contain at all times samples of the finest plants 

 or flowers in season, or examples of their artistic 

 arrangement. The evolution of the business during 

 the past twenty years has been gradual, but has 

 moved steadily onward. Wire and sticks have almost 

 entirely, or as much as possible, been displaced by the 

 improved and natural stems of the flowers themselves. 

 The arranged basket of flowers, once so popular as a 

 gift, has now given way to the box of long-stemmed 

 roses or cluster arrangement of the same, to which are 

 added orchids, violets, or other choice flowers, as pre- 

 ferred. The custom of sending flowers to young lady 

 debutantes, which has become fashionable the past few 

 years, has become an important feature of the trade, 

 and atones in a measure for the discontinuance of the 

 ball bouquet, once so popular but now almost obsolete. 



Christmas and New Year holidays were at one time 

 equal factors in taxing the florists to the utmost to sup- 

 ply the demand for their goods, but of late years the 

 1st day of January has lost this floral feature, and is 

 no longer considered of importance. The Easter holi- 

 day trade has grown, however, from scarcely any busi- 

 ness in the early days, to be the most important event 

 of the year ; in fact, with many growers it is the great- 

 est harvest, as almost all their winter season is given 

 to preparing plants and flowers for the Easter demand. 



Since the introduction of the Lilium Harrisii, or Ber- 

 muda-grown Lllitim longiflorum, hundreds Oi thou- 

 sands of these bulbs are forced for this festival. 

 Azaleas are probably next in demand, large quantities 

 being annually imported for forcing. It would be diflS- 

 cult to estimate with any accuracy the amount of busi- 

 ness transacted by the florists of this country for the 

 Easter festival, but the sum total must be enormous. 



The old-time florist was satisfied with one crop from 

 his greenhouses — that of bedding plants for spring 

 planting. During the summer the houses stood empty, 

 and for a large part of the winter contained dormant or 

 semi-dormant stock. The wide-awake grower of to-day 

 never allows any portion of his plant to remain idle even 

 for a week, one crop being arranged to follow another in 

 close rotation. 



As flowers are very perishable articles, and depend 

 for their existence on certain conditions of light and 

 heat, there are times when the supply is not sufiicient 

 for the demand; and again when the quantity coming 

 into the market is more than can be disposed of at the 

 current rates. Of late years over-production has been 

 the bugbear of the business. Half of the season the 

 market has been over-stocked. Consignment follows 

 consignment, until the commission houses are at their 

 wits' ends to dispose of them. Here an important fac- 

 tor was introduced. The fakir, or street man, became a 

 customer for job lots at low prices. Through him im- 

 mense quantities of flowers, for which no other avenue 

 was open, have been sold daily in all the large cities. 

 Their plate glass cases in doorways or by blank walls 

 are to be seen throughout the sh'*|.|)ing districts filled, 

 as a rule, with good flowers, with few exei-i.tions. 



The principal and most popular < 'ut-llowiTs grown in 

 this country are distinctively American. The Bride and 

 Bridesmaid roses are American sports of the Catherine 

 Mermet. The American Beauty, as it is grown here, is 

 vastly different from Mme. Ferdinand Jamin of Europe. 

 The Kaiserin Augusta Victoria and Meteor are Euro- 

 pean sorts. The carnations grown are of an entirely 

 different type from the European varieties, and are all 

 American seedlings. The evolution that is taking place 

 in this flower is wonderful, as the standard is being so 

 constantly raised that varieties that were considered su- 

 perior ten years ago are now scarcely known. The 

 American Carnation Society, composed largely of com- 

 mercial carnation specialists, has done much to advance 

 the quality and general excellence of this superb flower. 

 Chrysanthemums that produce best results here are 

 nearly all of American origin, from plants imported 

 from Japan. New varieties are introduced each year, 

 some of which show improvement and spur hybridizers 

 on to renewed efforts. 



The demand for palms and decorative foliage plants 

 has kept pace with that of flowers, if, indeed, it has not 

 taken the lead. The increase in the greenhouse space 

 given up to the growth of palms is at least threefold 

 within the past ten years, and it may be said that the 

 demand exceeds the supply, although the stock is aug- 

 mented largely each year by importations from Europe. 

 Whole houses are given up to the production of Ficus 

 elasfica, which plant Is a great favorite with the masses. 

 Great quantities of ferns for table decorations are now 

 used, the little fernery being considered as indispensa- 

 ble as the china to the setting. 



The public taste at the present day is mostly for loose 

 arrangements of long-stemmed flowers. Stiff, formal 

 designs are tabooed. The popular funeral emblem is 

 forms of the wreath, which is made with a great variety 

 of flowers, often all of one kind. Loose clusters tied 

 with ribbons, and palm leaves (sago palms) crossed and 

 tied with ribbons and flowers, are also favorites. House 

 decorations are largely composed of long-stemmed roses, 

 carnations, etc., placed in vases, but few, if any, set 

 pieces being allowed. Table decorations for dinners 

 are also confined to the use of long-stemmed flowers in 

 vases, and others arranged on the cloth with ferns. 

 Churches are trimmed with palms, plants in flower 

 and long-stemmed flowers in tall vases, all being done, 

 as in other instances, to show, as far as possible, the 

 natural grace of the flower. Bridal bouquets are also 

 arranged loosely, some with shower effect, by menus 

 of flowers tied to narrow ribbons ; others tied with 



