CUT -FLOWERS 



for the market, r.nil i-iial>li-(l him to devote his entire at- 

 tention to cultivatimi, i'lniti This period, the business 

 began its most i:i[ii4 >1im l.inn.nt. as the more con- 

 venient location d i!h i1..m. r ~t..res in the populous 

 centers induced a lirtr. r i ,i; i ..ni.c and consequent love 

 for flowers, and I ii:i'' ' ■ _■ r, by reason of his un- 

 divided atteation. i ■ ; r ■■ jH-rfect stock and in- 

 crease the j^idu.i i. ! i ^ ;i|,.nt. 



It was so* foiiii . ^ I ^ attention to but one 



kind of flower. 1., I. - , i, -,, :^ ;, ..l.taini-d. and many 

 rose, violi-t. and raniaTi-m ^|H-,i;ilists H-.Ti- .li-vi-|.i|"-'i. 

 The succ_-i-ss ,it' ..111- i.'r..\vcr cifr.'ii in.lurr.l Ins Ti.iu'lil">rs 



to follow Ills ..xaiiipl.-. TwM ■■!■ Ilir.-.' -u -stiil m.ii iii 



a locality u-av,- niii...r to tli- |.la.-.> l.iin-. Iiv r.a-..ii ..f 

 its soil, climate, etc.. particularly adapted for the pro- 

 duction of a certain flower, and a colony of such grow- 

 ers would soon spring up. Note the violet growers of 

 the Hudson, in New York ; the rosarians of Madison, 

 N. J., and thp carnation belt of Chi^sfrr countv. Pa. As 

 the busin.-ss has ,l,.vrl,,,„.,l and -n.wn all over the 

 United Stales, it has Imi-h fMim^l ihat it i- not so much 



is attained. With tin- -r.ai . \|i;nisi,.n ot' tlie industry, 

 the handling of tin' laiu'i .|n,iiitiii.-s of flowers thrown 

 on themarket be.'anir a >liilir,ilr |.r.iblem. The Thirty- 

 fourth St. cut-flow.-r inirk.i. in \.-w York, originated 

 from the retail di'ah i - oh^iihl' tlir Loni; Island grow- 

 ers every moruinir :ir I'M I ! \.' 'n\Mn!'ni r<- : :i iii'ant 

 opened its doors ,1 , li.r 

 years a large busiti> - Mun 

 of growers was tinau \ i..riii' m. ■.-, ;i[i [i r-cmi i-u. m, m an 

 adjoining commoili..us huiMaig. a uiaik.i. nhi. ii lias 

 since been very successful and a great convenience to 

 both branches of the trade. 



The wholesale handling of flowers on commission was 

 commenced in New York city in 1878, by J. K. Allen. This 

 plan soon 1 am.- po;>ular, numerous houses were es- 

 tablished, and thr stork (■■■muig to the New York mar- 

 ket, particnhirly that of the large growers, is mainly 

 disposed "f thionu'h those channels. The excellence of 

 thf lliovi i-s -nppliod and the better market of the large 

 citi. , caii-rl a considerable shipping demand, which 

 pi-o\i(h'ii a niw -h-needed outlet for the immense quanti- 

 ties of stuck that at times were greatly in excess of the 

 local needs. With the present compli'te shipping facili- 

 ties, together with the impnivod m.tlio.ls of packing. 



Cut-flowers are now shipped h-n- .li-tat s. arriving at 



their destination in a satisfart,oy r..naiti..ii after jour- 

 neys of from 36 to 48 hours' dnrati.oi. 



The final distribution of the flowers through the ave- 

 nues of the retail florist engages a considerable num- 

 ber of men in all the large cities of the countrv. Manv 

 of the establishments compare favorably with the finest 

 stores ot Mth.T liiii--, \'. ill!- Hi- i|"lr. ' ;■'. -.•r-, i. ■,•,>■ i;li ils 

 fancy waL-.". • -i i :■■ ' > ' < ■ i.'.i.i- 



ble. Gr./:,i •• ' ~ ,!.,.,,!,,.,., , . ; . ;,, , 



of these In-'i -l.-i-- . ^I;il.,.-h:r. 1 ■- I , ■.• ^' ,, . •,> 1,1- 



dows contain at ail times sanipie^ nt lii.. nne^r |.|;,nls 

 or flowers in season, or exani|iles .,f tli.ii- aiiisiir 

 arrangement. The evolutien ..f the business dufinL: 

 the past twentv vears has be.-n ^-radual, bnt has 

 m..ve,l stead ilv onward. Wire and sticks have almost 

 f'Tiiiiel\ , ..I' :i- much as possible, been displaced by the 

 ill I itnral stems of the flowers themselves. 



T isket of flowers, once so popular as a 



gilt. Ill- II ' -iven way to the box of long-stemmed 

 roses or clnsfer arrangement of the same, to which are 

 added orchids, violets, or other choice flowers, as pre- 

 ferred. The custom of sending flowers to young lady 

 debutantes, which has become fashionalde the past few 

 years, has become an imjiei-tnnt fentni-e of tlie trade, 

 and atones in a measure for ;' . >!i . .-o ,;,„,,, ,,f ,),,, 

 ball bouquet, once so populc! ' ., ,,i^,,l,io. 



Christma? and Now Yen r I : ^ v, , re m o,,e tniie 



pqn-d factors in t:,^:it,._' tle^ :l •-■■ lo ilie utmost to .sup- 



iio .. ,ce. The Easter holi- 



day tinle li:i. L-r..,Mi. IcM \ e |- , ivnii scarccly auy busl" 

 ness in the early days, to be the most important event 

 of the year ; in fact, with many growers it is the great- 

 est harvest, as almost all their winter season is given 

 to preparing plants and flowers for the Easter demand. 



CUT-FLOWERS 419 



Since the introduction of the Lilitim Harrisii, or Ber- 

 muda-grown Jjilium longiflorum, hundreds of thou- 

 sands of these bulbs are forced for this festival. 

 Azaleas are probably next in demand, large quantities 

 being annually imported for forcing. It would be diffi- 

 cult to estimate with any aecnracv the amount of busi- 

 ness transacted bv the iloiists of this country for the 

 Easter festival, but the sum t.,tnl must be enormous. 



The old-time tlorist was satisfied with one crop from 

 his greenhouses — that of bedding plants for spring 

 idantini.'. During the summer the houses stood empty, 

 and for :i kir:;e part of the winter contained dormant or 

 -euiioloriii lilt stock. The wide-awake grower of to-day 

 never allows any portion of his plant to remain idle even 

 for a week, one crop being arranged to follow another in 

 close rotation. 



As flowers are very perishable articles, and depend 

 for their existence on certain conditions of light and 

 heat, there are times when the supply is not sufiicient 

 for the demand; and again when the quantity coming 

 into the market is more than can be disposed of at the 

 current rates. Of late years over-production has been 

 the butrliear of the business. Half of the season the 

 market has be.ii over-stocked. Consignment follows 

 consiu'Tiiiient. until the commission houses are at their 

 wits' iiels t.i c|iv|.ose of them. Here an important fac- 

 tor was inti-oduceil. The fakir, or street man, became a 

 customer for job lots at low prices. Through him im- 

 mense quantities of flowers, for which no other avenue 

 was open, have been sold daily in all the large cities. 

 Their plate glass cases in doorways or by blank walls 

 are to be seen throughout the shopping districts filled, 

 as a rule, with good flowers, with few exceptions. 



The principal and most popular Cut-flowers grown in 

 this country are distinctively American. The Bride and 

 Bridesmaid roses are American sports of the Catherine 

 Mermet. The .Vmerican lieauty, as it is grown here, is 

 vastly different from ,'\liiie. Ferdinand Jamin of Europe. 

 The Kai.serin Aui;usta N'icioria and Meteor are Euro- 

 pean sorts. The i-aniations grown are of an entirely 

 different type from the European varieties, and are all 

 American seedlings. The evolution that is taking place 

 in this flower is wonderful, as the standard is being so 

 constantly raised that varieties that were considered su- 

 perior ten years ago are riov -cnrci ly known. The 

 American Carnation S ■ . - i i lai-oely of com- 

 mercial carnation spec i:i h ■ i •.. much to advance 



the quality and general ' In^ superb flower. 



Chrysanthemums that luoicc Im-i results here are 

 nearly all of American <n-igin, from plants imported 

 from Japan. New varieties are introduced each year, 

 some of which show improvement and spur hybridizers 

 on to renewed efforts. 



The.biuand for palms and dc rative t'oliage plants 



has kc|pi pace with that of flowers, it', iicleed, it has not 

 lakeii ihe lead. Thc increase in the i:re. nhotise space 

 L'i\en u], to the growth of ]ialiri~ i- at l.a~f threefold 

 within the past ten years, and it may be s-ud that the 



nienfed lart'elv each vccir bv imporiatious from Europe. 

 Whole houses ate .giveu u|i to the production of Ficus 

 (iastiriy, which plant is a great favorite with the masses. 

 Gre.at quantities of ferns for table decorations are now 

 used, the little fernery being considered as indispensa- 

 ble as the china to the setting. 



The public taste at the present day is mostly for loose 

 arrangements of long-stemmed flowers. Stiff, formal 

 designs are tabooed. The popular funeral emblem is 

 forms of the wreath, which is made with a great variety 

 ot flowers, often all of one kind. Loose clusters tied 



tied with ribbons iiud Ibcver^, :ire al-o fa\.irites. House 



pieces i„ ,1,.- :,!!,,,. ,,,p Table decoratiuus for dinners 



are ;,]- ' I • iiie use of long-stemmed flowers in 



vase-, irranged on the cloth with ferns. 



Cliur. 1,1 Hilled with palms, plants in flower 



and loiiL- -leiMiic,! flowers in tall vases, all being done, 

 as in other instances, to show, as far as possible, the 

 natural grace of the flower. Bridal bouquets are also 

 arranged loosely, some with shower effect, by means 

 of flowers tied to narrow ribbons ; others tied with 



