CHAPTER I 



Market Conditions and Average Prices 



The man who has to make his living from the growing 

 and selling of crops is first of all obliged to consider the 

 probable cost of, and returns from, a given crop. The cost 

 of growing Winter-flowering Sweet Peas is certainly not 

 greater than the cost of growing the same area of Carna- 

 tions, and the quantity of flowers produced by the Peas is 

 very much greater. Of course, Carnations may be grown 

 in houses that would be considered not high enough, or 

 not the best adapted, for Sweet Peas, but, in any case, most 

 of the modern houses are big and roomy. More will be 

 said as to cost and yield later; but the first question is that 

 of prices. 



The ruling prices in the four chief markets have been 

 mentioned in the Introduction, and weekly quotations 

 from the chief wholesale flower markets form a section of 

 the present chapter. From these lists the reader can satisfy 

 himself fairly accurately as to the probable returns in 

 cash that he may receive from the wholesalers, deducting, 

 of course, the usual 15 per cent, commission charges. 



It is interesting, and helpful also, in forming an opinion 

 as to the trend of the market throughout the three seasons 

 when Peas are obtainable, to have before us the comments 

 by reliable market reporters, and these are arranged 

 hereunder. 



Chicago. — There has been a good demand for Winter 

 Sweet Peas in this market. Despite the long continued 



