SUPTVUBBB 17, 1914. 



Thc'lFIorists^ Review 



^:d^' *^-- 



15 



18 not perpetuated, however, and it is 

 more than likely that stock from your 

 varit'gated plant will come gretin in 

 anollier season. However, if the varie- 

 gation is sufficiently pronounced to be 

 distinct, it would be well to save all 

 bulb lets and increase your stock. 



C. W. 



FLORIOULTUEE AS A PROFESSION. 



Its Possibilities. 



A pamphlet just issued by the depart- 

 ment of floriculture of the Massachu- 

 setts Agricultural College, at Amherst, 

 presents, in addition to information in 

 regard to the instruction, equipment, 

 etc., of the department, a brief survey 

 of tlie field and its possibilities and 

 opportunities for one taking up flori- 

 culture as a profession. In this regard, 

 the pamphlet reads: 



"The growth of the cut flower indus- 

 try during the last twenty-five years 

 has been phenomenal. The last decade 

 has ulso witnessed great advances in 

 the production of ornamental plants. 

 In fact, the growing of flowers and 

 plants under glass, which was origi- 

 nally a luxury of the wealthy, has de- 

 veloped into a profession which here 

 in New England is one of the most 

 important of agricultural specialties. 



"In commercial floriculture, the east, 

 particularly New England, owing to its 

 nearness to market, has made wonder- 

 ful progress. In this section the indus- 

 try is still in its infancy and destined 

 to undergo still greater development 

 and more radical changes. We have 

 by no means reached the limit of im- 

 provement and we have reason to ex- 

 pect as much advancement in the fu- 

 ture as has occurred in the past. 



"Floriculture is now a profession 

 based on scientific knowledge. It is no 

 longer in an experimental stage; it has 

 assumed immense proportions, and is 

 upon a safe basis. Granting that the 

 production of flowers and plants is an 

 important industry and that the num- 

 ber of conservatories in public parks is 

 increasing, the question naturally 

 arises: 'What are the opportunities 

 for scientifically trained men and 

 women in floricultural workf 



Opportunities. 



"The opportunities for trained men 

 and women may be classed under four 

 heads, (i) commercial work, (2) pri- 

 vate estate work, (3) park and ceme- 

 tery work and (4) instructional and 

 experimental work. Commercial work 

 »8 mentioned first, because it undoubt- 

 edly offers the largest opportunities. 

 JJne who has sufficient capital, and who 

 "as had practical experience, so neces- 

 ^^ry to success in conducting a busi- 

 ness, may either go into business for 

 iimself or buy a small establishment 

 ^nitb with a little individual eflfort 

 °?ay be put on a paying basis. Should 

 ""e funds not be available, there are 

 "^^ny chances where the young man or 

 woman can find employment on one of 

 tne larger established places. This is 

 «|8o probably the best plan for those 

 j^no have not sufficient practical expe- 

 ^encc. In t^g larger establishments 

 wo^v'''° cannot possibly oversee all the 

 tin ^° ^^^ plant is divided into sec- 

 ^^^^, each section being in charge of 

 gj //^Pcrt grower. One must not lose 

 vai i"^ ^^^ ^^^^ *^^* experience is a 



ANGELO J. BOSSI. 



AMONG the men you will meet when you attend the San Francisco convention 

 of the S. A. F. next August will be Angelo J. Bossi, one of the partners in 

 the wide-awake retail concern of Pelicano, Rossi & Co., and one of the active 

 workers in all undertakings affecting the trade welfare. Mr, Bossi, conducting a 

 high-class retail store, appreciates the business value of flower shows and always 

 is one of the leaders in the San Francisco exhibitions, giving his services in the 

 management and also figuring as an exhibitor, for the full publicity value of a 

 flower show goes only to those who are exhibitors. When the San Franciscans organ- 

 ize for the convention work they will put a goodly share of the responsibility on 

 Angelo J. Bossi, who wUl, as the saying goes, "be there with the goods." 



tural 



le asset in all lines of horticul- 

 work and for this reason it is 



always a good plan to round out one's 

 education by working in some progres- 

 sive establishment. 



"In private garden work there are 

 opportunities equally attractive and 

 numerous. There are many private 

 estates in this country, all in charge 

 of superintendents or gardeners, in 

 which positions a knowledge of flori- 

 culture and other subjects related to 

 estate management is essential. The 

 only difference between this type of 

 work and commercial floriculture is 

 that salaries are fixed and income is 

 not dependent upon a fluctuating flower 

 market. 



"In parks and cemeteries there are 

 always good openings for men with a 

 thorough knowledge of floricultural 

 subjects. Every park in ouft larger 

 cities has a conservatory where plants 

 valued for botanical and ornamental 

 purposes are housed. A modern ceme- 

 tery must also have a glass range of 

 sufficient size for the growing of the 



many bedding plants that are used 

 from year to year. The man in charge 

 of a public conservatory or cemetery 

 range works under essentially the same 

 conditions as one on a private estate. 

 "At the present time many excel- 

 lent opportunities are found in instruc- 

 tional and experimental work. Here 

 we have a field practically unexplored. 

 A prominent investigator not long ago 

 made the statement that this work of- 

 fered the broadest field for investiga- 

 tional work within the domain of agri- 

 culture. Although the field is large 

 and the problems numerous, there are 

 but three states having proper facili- 

 ties for experimental work. Floricul- 

 ture is a new subject from the stand- 

 point of education. The growing de- 

 mand for trained men has been strong 

 and the more progressive state institu- 

 tions have met this demand by the 

 establishment of more or less complete 

 courses in floriculture and others will 

 follow as soon as money and men are 



