1242 



FLORICULTURE 



invested in glasshouses and their equipment is con- 

 siderable. The return from the products, however, is 

 immediate. Commercial growers and men making a 

 business of greenhouse construction, estimate that 

 it costs from 60 to 90 cents a square foot of ground 

 covered to build and equip a modern range. The 

 growers estimate that the products from such an area 

 the first year should cover the cost of construction. 



The flower-growing industry in the United States 

 has not yet assumed the large proportions that it has 

 in many European cities. The early colonists were an 

 extremely practical people and paid little attention to 

 the distinctly ornamental features about the home. As 

 wealth increased, however, there came to be a more 

 liberal use of flowers and plants; hence a larger demand 

 for them in the industrial world. 



Floricultural statistics for the Dominion of Canada 

 are less complete than for the United States. The fol- 

 lowing are figures furnished through the courtesy of 

 W. T. Macoun, Dominion Horticulturist: 



Capital invested, approximately $1,500,000 



Square feet of glass 6,000,000 



Annual output $1,000,000 



Area covered 120 acres 



History of the industry. 



The early history of the floricultural industry is 

 obscure. It was merged to such an extent with other 

 branches of horticulture and other industries that it 

 could hardly be called a distinct industry. Previous to 

 1825 there is record of but few commercial flower- 

 growing establishments. From 1830 to 1840, rapid 

 progress was made in all branches of the work. The 

 demand for glasshouse products increased to a con- 

 siderable degree. Better houses were built, better sys- 

 tems of heating were devised, and consequently better 

 products were put on the market. 



Even the glasshouses of this period were extremely 

 crude affairs. The framework was of large dimensions, 

 the glass small in size, heavy and thick. The roofs 

 were largely portable, being made of sash. About 1855 

 the first house having permanent sash-bars was built 

 by Frederic A. Lord hi Buffalo. The wooden super- 

 structure of this house was heavy and the interior light 

 conditions correspondingly poer, but it was a vast 

 improvement over sash-houses. This type of construc- 

 tion was met with favor by glasshouse men, and many 

 houses of a similar type soon were built. Glass of 

 larger size was used, and this was embedded in putty 

 instead of being placed on the outside as in sash-houses. 



Previous to 1870 the principal business of the florist 

 was the growing of potted plants. The flowers from 

 these were often sold as cut-flowers, but the business 

 centered about growing potted plants for outdoor 

 bedding and other ornamental purposes. The cut- 

 flowers of that early period were comparatively of a 

 small-flowered, short-stemmed sort heliotrope, camel- 

 lia, tuberose, bouvardia and those of a like nature. 

 Although the carnation was introduced as a florist 

 crop about 1852, it was of little commercial importance 

 previous to this date. About 1865, Dailledouze & 

 Zeller of Flatbush, Long Island, began to breed the 

 carnation, and between 1866 and 1872 several new 

 varieties were introduced by this firm. Garden roses 

 had been popular for many years, but few attempts 

 were made to grow them under glass previous to 1870. 

 They then came rapidly into public favor. 



From 1870 to 1880 the demand for both potted 

 plants and cut-flowers increased rapidly. More atten- 

 tion was paid to city and home ornamentation, and 

 consequently more park and private conservatories 

 were built. Each year witnessed improvements in 

 construction, and consequently better grades of 

 florists' products. In the last twenty years the ad- 

 vances which have been made in cultural conditions 



and the improvements in florists' crops have completely 

 revolutionized the industry. 



Improvements in glasshouse structures, and their heating. 



The tendency among flower-growers now is to build 

 large houses in preference to smaller ones. It has been 

 proved that the cost of construction is cheaper and that 

 these may be more easily heated, that plant-growth is 

 healthier because of a more uniform temperature, that 

 they are easier to construct and can be cared for with 

 greater economy of labor. Glass of larger size is now 

 used, and more attention is given details of construc- 

 tion to increase the light factors in the house. There 

 have been many changes in methods of heating glass- 

 houses during their history. From the crude methods 

 of flues, various devices for heating with hot water 

 and steam have been devised. Both of these methods 

 have then- advantages. In the earlier methods of hot- 

 water heating, the pipes were large and the system waa 

 an expensive one to install. Steam, therefore, came 

 into popular favor, especially in large commercial 

 establishments. It is still generally used. In some 

 sections of the country and in the growing of some 

 species of plants, hot water is still used; but here 

 better systems for forcing the circulation of water have 

 been installed so it is possible to use pipes of smaller 

 dimensions. 



Improvements in flower crops. 



The work of the plant-breeders began to produce results 

 in the the early nineties of last century. Many new varie- 

 ties of chrysanthemums and carnations were put on the 

 market. The violet then became an important florist 

 crop. The early part of the twentieth century, however, 

 witnessed a deluge of new varieties in practically all 

 species. Breeding and improved cultural methods 

 brought the qualities of the products far above any- 

 thing produced in the previous century. Large-flowered 

 carnations on long, stiff stems, violets of much larger 

 sizes, and improved strains of chrysanthemums, roses 

 and other species gave a remarkable impetus to the 

 industry. 



Previous to the beginning of the twentieth century, 

 the American florist had interested himself in the cul- 

 ture 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 products at retail; 

 consequently the retail flower-stores became more 

 and more important factors in the disposal of the prod- 

 ucts. Wholesale commission houses and wholesale 

 flower-markets were established in the larger cities so 

 that the grower could devote nearly his entire time to 

 the production of his crop. Many of the more progres- 

 sive florists came to feel that they could not afford to 

 grow a wide variety of plant species, but that it paid 

 them better to grow one or two crops and to devote 

 their whole attention to growing these in the finest 

 manner possible so that they could produce flowers 

 which were first quality in every respect; hence men 

 came to be known as carnation, rose, violet, chrysan- 

 themum, fern, palm and other specialists. This led to 

 a wonderful improvement in the quality of flowers 

 produced, and there was no call in the market for the 

 inferior grades. 



The buying public has had its influence in producing 

 a better quality of florists' products. It has demanded 

 not only better quality but something out of the ordi- 

 nary. People tired of roses, carnations, violets and bulb- 

 ous stock continually. The early part of the twentieth 

 century witnessed a remarkable interest in orchids. 

 The commercial man had to meet this demand. Twelve 

 years ago an orchid could hardly be found outside of 

 private conservatories. They were considered impossi- 

 ble to grow with financial success. Today nearly every 



