IMPORTANCE AND DEVELOPMENT 11 



market, but no marked results were observed until early 

 in the twentieth century. Breeding and improved cul- 

 tural methods then brought the quality of the products 

 far above anything which had previously been produced. 

 Large-flowered carnations on long, stiff stems, violets of 

 larger sizes, improved strains of chrysanthemums and 

 other species of greenhouse flowers gave a remarkable 

 impetus to the industry. 



10. Establishment of flower markets. Previous to 

 the beginning of the twentieth century, the American 

 florist interested himself in the culture of a wide variety 

 of plants. In many cases the larger part of the products 

 were sold at the range. The business, however, assumed 

 such proportions that many up-to-date florists found that 

 they could not profitably raise and dispose of their prod-, 

 ucts at retail. Too much of the grower's time was spent 

 in waiting on customers, and the quality of his products 

 often suffered as a consequence. Soon wholesale com- 

 mission houses and cooperative flower-markets were es- 

 tablished in the larger cities and towns. These supplied 

 the retail stores with fresh flowers every morning. By 

 this method of disposing of his products, the flower- 

 grower was able to devote nearly his entire day to cultural 

 practices in the range ; and by cutting his flowers, or pack- 

 ing them for shipment in the late afternoon, they were 

 in the market in the early morning, in excellent condition. 



11. Specialization. In the latter part of the nine- 

 teenth century, many of the more progressive florists 

 decided that they could not afford to grow a wide variety 

 of plant-species. It was more profitable to grow one or 

 two crops and to devote their whole attention to approach 

 perfection if possible. Hence it was that men came to 

 be known as carnation, rose, violet, chrysanthemum, fern, 



