CUT-FLOWER INDUSTRY 



CUT-FLOWER INDUSTRY 923 



the shallow raised bench, and this method of growing 

 cut-flowers has been adopted for practically all now 

 grown in large quantities; in fact, this system of cul- 

 ture is perhaps the greatest single feature which dis- 

 tinguishes American floricultural methods from those 

 of Europe. Simultaneously it became very generally 

 recognized that to grow roses successfully required 

 separate houses and a different temperature. For a 

 long time it was thought that a special form or construc- 

 tion was necessary, viz., the three-quarter span, but 

 now the even-span house is in general use. 



The present cut-flower production. 



Having made these important advances in cultural 

 methods, it needed but the introduction of the epoch- 

 making rose, Catherine Mermet, to place the rose in 

 the first place among cut-flowers. This variety came 

 at once into great popularity with the flower-buying 

 public and was very profitable to the growers, thereby 

 attracting capital to the flower business. The competi- 

 tion to produce and market the best qualily of flowers 

 elevated the standards in cut-flowers to a higher level. 

 Although the introduction of Catherine Mermet did 

 much for the flower business, it is as the parent of 

 Bride and Bridesmaid that the variety is generally 

 remembered. These "sports" have been the leading 

 white and pink varieties for twenty years, and have 

 been displaced only during the last five years by 

 White Killarney and Killarney, although many claim- 

 ants arose to dispute their leadership. These roses 

 succeeded because they were profitable with every 

 florist who could grow roses, and it is doubtful whether 

 we shall ever see varieties so generally successful 

 over so wide a territory. The market is seeking a 

 greater variety among roses than it did during the 

 years these roses held sway, but all this is advan- 

 tageous to the rose specialists. Next in importance 

 to Bride and Bridesmaid and their successors, White 

 Killarney and Killarney, is the American Beauty 

 (Madame Ferdinand Jamain). This variety can be 

 grown successfully and profitably only by growers who 

 have special conditions. As the variety is still with- 

 out a rival, it continues to be popular with the wealthy 

 flower-buyers. 



The American carnation may be regarded as the 

 greatest contribution America has yet made to the 

 floriculture of the world. The plant is unlike any type 

 grown in Europe and its development is due to Ameri- 

 can plant-breeders, Dorner, Fisher, Ward and many 

 others. During the last fifty years it has been improved 

 in form, size, color and productiveness. Hundreds of 

 varieties have been introduced and the progress has 

 been so rapid that the best have lasted but a few years. 

 Within the last ten years the American carnation has 

 become popular in England, and now new varieties 

 are appearing from over the sea. The United States 

 census of 1890 shows that roses were first, carnations 

 second, and that the two comprised 65 per cent of all 

 cut-flowers. This relative standing has been main- 

 tained to the present time. 



The development in chrysanthemums has been no 

 less marked. From the old formal Chinese sorts, the 

 popular fancy turned to the large informal Japanese 

 kinds. Now a change to the single and pompon types 

 is being experienced. The varieties of greatest com- 

 mercial importance have been for the last ten or fifteen 

 years of American origin. The English, French and, 

 finally, the Australian varieties have led as exhibition 

 flowers, but only an occasional variety has proved 

 meritorious as market cut-flowers. (See Carnation, 

 Chrysanthemum, Rose, and other special articles.) 



At the present time the important cut-flowers are 

 roses, carnations, violets, chrysanthemums, sweet peas, 

 lilies, narcissi, orchids, lilies-of-the-valley, mignonette, 

 snapdragons, marguerites and gardenias. A modern 

 cut-flower establishment in the region of New York 



59 



grows for its wholesale trade the following numbers of 

 plants: 



Roses 100,000 



Chrysanthemums 240,000 



Carnations 45,000 



Lilies (75,000 for Easter) 150,000 



Lilies-of-the-valley 300,000 



Orchids 25,000 



These are grown in a range of houses comprising 

 900,000 square feet of glass requiring 8,000 tons of 

 coal, 300 employees, 25 horses, 4 automobiles, and a 

 250-acre farm with a dairy of 160 cows to suppy the 

 manure required. 



The past ten years have witnessed the development 

 of the new winter-flowering types of sweet peas, and 

 now these flowers bid fair to rival the violet and chry- 

 santhemum for position after roses and carnations. 



Orchids, particularly cattleyas, now are being grown 

 by commercial florists for cut-flowers. Although of 

 recent development, during the last ten or twelve 

 years, all large establishments have an orchid depart- 

 ment, while many smaller growers are specializing 

 in their culture. 



Lilies, through the means of cold storage, may now 

 be had by forcing throughout the year. The varieties 

 of Japanese longiflorums have largely supplanted the 

 old Lilium Harrisii kind. Lilium spedosum varieties 

 are now largely grown. 



The antirrhinum is now being grown by several 

 specialists and doubtless will yield varieties adapted 

 to greenhouse culture. 



The most important outdoor flowers for cutting are 

 peonies, gladioli and asters. The peony is now a most 

 important Memorial Day cut-flower, and many acres 

 are devoted to its culture in regions in which the 

 improved varieties mature their flowers early enough. 

 By means of cold storage, flowers of certain varieties 

 may be kept in good condition for as much as four 

 weeks. The florists are enabled to have a supply of 

 this flower for commencements, weddings, and the 

 like, throughout the latter part of May, June and early 

 July. 



Gladioli are increasing in popularity as summer cut- 

 flowers because of their keeping qualities under ordi- 

 nary conditions. Not only are the white varieties use- 

 ful, but the magnificent colored varieties are being 

 used in large numbers for bouquets on dining-tables 

 in hotels and restaurants. 



The selling. 



The marketing of cut-flowers is a business of itself. 

 Many an excellent grower fails because he is not expert 

 in selling his blooms. The cutting of the blooms must 

 be properly done and at the right stage of development. 

 The proper stage in the development when cutting 

 should be done varies with the variety and the season. 

 Roses should be 6ut as the petals begin to unfold, when 

 the tip of the bud is bursting and the outer petals have 

 reached the proper color. Carnations are picked when 

 fully developed or when three-quarters developed. 

 The latter stage is determined by the pistils having 

 reached an even length with the center petals. Most 

 flowers should be cut early in the morning, and as soon 

 as cut should be placed in clean fresh water, after 

 which they are carried to the cooling-room. The vases 

 in which the flowers are placed should be deep enough 

 to allow plunging the stems two-thirds their length in 

 water. The temperature of the water should be 10 to 

 15 higher than that of the cooling-room which is 45 

 to 50. The temperature is thus gradually lowered 

 to that of the storage-room. The flowers remain in 

 the cooling-room until the picking is done, when they 

 are graded. 



Along with the advance in cultural methods and to 

 meet market requirements, flowers have been graded. 

 Although the kinds of flowers grown and the quality 



