30 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



24. Methods of commission house management. - 



(Fig. 3.) The organization of the working staff in com- 

 mission houses is not unlike that of the retail store. Aside 

 from the office staff there is usually a manager who has 

 general oversight over all employees. Clerks with artis- 

 tic abilities, such as the retail store demands, are not 

 an absolute necessity but they must be well trained in 

 packing and unpacking plants and cut-flowers, so that 

 the work may be done quickly and the products reach 

 their destination in excellent condition. Most wholesale 

 firms have a traveling representative who takes orders 

 for ribbons, material for designs, vases and other florists' 

 supplies. 



Each wholesale house has a definite system of manage- 

 ment. As a rule, wholesale men arrange with the growers 

 to handle their out-put strictly on a commission basis. 

 This commission is generally fifteen per cent on the gross 

 sales. Within the last few years, the co-operation between 

 growers and commission men has advanced to such an 

 extent, that many growers consult with the commission 

 men as to the flowers required to meet the market demands. 



In addition to the agreement which the wholesaler 

 makes with the grower to take his produce, the whole- 

 saler must also purchase certain goods at net prices, that 

 he may be prepared to meet the requirements of his patrons 

 at certain seasons. This is particularly true at Christmas, 

 Easter and during Memorial Day week. It is not unusual 

 for one house to engage at net prices, fifty thousand roses 

 or one hundred thousand carnations with a proportionate 

 supply of other goods, all in addition to the products of the 

 regular growers. 



Most wholesale houses have a system whereby a grower, 

 when he consigns to a wholesaler, is given a num- 



