92 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



method of marketing, whether this be at wholesale or 

 retail prices. A conservative estimate of the number of 

 flowers from each plant would probably be about twelve. 

 This would make the annual production of blooms from 

 twenty-five thousand plants, 300,000. If the average 

 price of these, including cost of transportation, be three 

 cents, the income from the house described would be 

 about S9000. 



Growers differ in their estimates of the number of 

 flowers which should be produced by each plant, also 

 regarding the average wholesale price received for the 

 same. Letters sent to many growers brought widely 

 different estimates. One New York grower, who has 

 kept careful figures of yield and returns for many years, 

 writes as follows : " Fifteen flowers to the plant is con- 

 sidered high, and a production of ten flowers is much 

 more general. From actual figures taken on our range, 

 from ten to fifteen flowers to the plant is as high an es- 

 timate as can be given. I recently averaged the prices 

 we received for the last ten years, and found that the 

 average was about three and one-half cents. I think 

 three cents, or, at the lowest, two and three-quarters 

 cents, is a fair estimate." 



Other growers consider fifteen flowers to the plant a 

 low yield, and an average price of three cents a high 

 estimate. 



The average yields of roses, violets and other cut- 

 flower crops may be determined in a similar manner. 

 This subject of cost of production and its relation to the 

 income offers a wide field for investigation. 



