500 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



the prices received through this co-operative plan are said to be very 

 satisfactory. 



In close touch with the commission houses and exchanges are 

 the retail stores, which are by far the most important factors in con- 

 nection with this business in the matter of handling and disposing of 

 stock. The amount of flowers and plants handled by these establish- 

 ments in some of the large cities is almost incredible. Undoubtedly 

 the annual sales of some of the best establishments of this kind in New- 

 York City will not fall short of three or four hundred thousand dol- 

 lars. The stores themselves are looked after with the greatest care, 

 every attention being given to the satisfying of artistic desires on the 

 part of the customers. As already pointed out, the successful men in 

 this business are those having sufficient artistic ability not only to 

 cater to the demands of the customers, but to create new fads. The 

 arrangement and handling of the flowers, the boxes, ribbons, delivery 

 wagons, messenger boys, and every detail must be of the most artistic 

 kind in order to attract attention and draw trade. 



It frequently happens that, owing to circumstances, quantities 

 of flowers are left on the hands of wholesalers, commission men, and 

 others. Most of this material is now disposed of to a class of men 

 known as street fakers, who often play an important part in relieving 

 the pressure on an already full market. These fakers are to be found 

 everywhere in large cities, and, with their push carts and other facili- 

 ties for locomotion, they are doubtless able to supply a class of trade 

 that could not be reached in any other way. 



Through the trade journals growers, wholesalers, and retailers 

 are kept in close touch with each other. These journals are published 

 weekly, and each has its staff of special correspondents, who watch the 

 markets and call attention to every detail worth noting. (Y. B. 

 1899.) 



CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF HOTBEDS. 



The hotbed is an essential adjunct in good gardening, and yet it 

 is surprising how little the management of hotbeds is understood. 

 Certain plants and many flowers require longer time than the average 

 length of seasons in the north to reach maturity, and have to be 

 started and partly developed under artificial conditions. Others that 

 do mature within the length of the warm seasons, can be brought to 

 maturity earlier, and the time of use prolonged by employing the 

 hotbed to secure early development. 



The conditions to be secured in hotbeds are protection from ex- 

 ternal influences, heat, moisture, and air, all of which must be se- 

 cured and harmonized to a proper degree to suit the requirements of 

 plant growth and development. Most seeds can be germinated with 

 very little difficulty if they have been properly saved and their vital- 

 ity preserved in storage. The management of tender plants, how- 

 ever, raised under artificial conditions, is a matter requiring good 

 judgment and some skill. 



Frame. Sufficient protection must be afforded to keep out cold 

 and prevent influences of weather changes. For this purpose a frame 

 built of inch lumber will answer the requirements. A hotbed of or- 



