December, 1910 



THE GARDEN M A G A Z I N E 



225 



large scale, the raising of these seedlings for 

 sale is a distinctly profitable venture, and 

 as can easily be seen from the fact that there 

 are well-established enterprises engaged 

 in nothing else but the production of seed- 

 ling vegetables and flowers for retailing 

 later in the seed stores to the casual 

 passerby. 



As the supply was increased and the 

 trade gradually developed, it was soon 

 seen that extensive hotbeds would hardly 

 be as profitable as a small greenhouse, 

 inasmuch as hotbeds served the purpose 

 for but a small period of the year whereas 

 a greenhouse could be converted into 

 several different uses when not engaged 

 in the actual raising of new seedlings. 

 That was the deciding point. 



The first building was a greenhouse 

 20 X 40 ft. Mr. Tripp himself did the 

 glazing, plumbing, etc., which reduced 

 the cost of construction, the actual cash 

 outlay being less than |i,ooo. His plan 

 at first was to grow more vegetable plants, 

 although he had a few flowers, partly 

 for his own use and partly to learn if 

 they would be profitable. He began with 

 lilies, and realized such good prices that 

 he increased his beds. Next he tried 

 carnations and was equally successful, 

 demonstrating to his own satisfaction 

 that flowers could be made the most 

 profitable part of his business. 



So he built a house for lilies and one for 

 carnations. Bermuda, and Easter lilies and 

 some callas are grown. The flowers of the 

 last named being cut from January to 

 July; then they rest until the following 

 January. 



One of the large houses is now used 

 mainly for growing vegetable plants, but 

 other crops are grown in the house to fill 

 in when it is not used for this 'purpose. 

 Lettuce is sown out-of-doors in September 

 and transplanted to the vegetable green- 

 house in November. At the same time 

 as it is transplanted, lettuce is sown in flats 

 in the greenhouse for succession. The 

 Grand Rapids is the only variety grown. 



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,^1 







During winter Carnations are a profitable crop. The 

 plants are grown outdoors in summer 



Succeeding crops of lettuce are grown in 

 this way until April, when the benches 

 are wanted for vegetable plants, seeds 

 of which are sown in flats — mostly placed 

 under benches — during March, so that 

 the seedlings are ready for transplanting 

 in April after the lettuce is removed. 



The vegetable plants begin to be sold in 

 May, and as they go out, their place is 

 taken by cucumbers and chrysanthemums 

 (the latter for the fall trade) until the 

 house is again wanted for lettuce in the 

 fall. 



The capacity of the carnation house 

 is about 5,000 plants, the only variety 

 grown being Enchantress. The house 

 is restocked with new plants in the fall 

 which furnish flowers for nine months. 

 Plants are started out-of-doors and brought 

 in and transplanted. 



Smilax, fern fronds and asparagus are 

 also grown. Mr. Tripp says the most 

 profit in the flower business is obtained 

 from the making up of floral pieces for 

 funerals, weddings, etc. Plants that are 

 sold in pots are ferns, palms and geraniums, 



while azaleas, asters, phlox and verbenas 

 are sold in boxes. 



The cost of the present plant, Mr. 

 Tripp itemizes as follows: 



Six houses glazed, and furnace room . . 84,000 

 Three boilers for furnace room installed, 



S400 each 1,200 



3,500 feet of 1 3^ inch piping and valves . 400 

 11,000 feet of stone flagging for benches, 



with 2-inch piping for supports . . . 500 



Hose 75 



S6,i7s 

 If to this amount, we add the value cf 

 the ground on which the plant stands, 

 the total investment is about §7,000. 

 Stone flagging was used for the benches 

 because it could be had at a low figure 

 but cement is generally the best thing to 

 use for this purpose. Wood, of course, 

 is cheaper than either flagging or cement, 

 but is not permanent. 



The total sales from this establishment, 

 containing 15,500 feet of floor space, are 

 stated by Mr. Tripp as follows: 



Carnations $2,500 



Lilies 400 



Sweet peas 100 



Chrysanthemums 400 



Summer roses 100 



Greens (smilax, fern fronz, asparagus) . 100 

 Potted plants (ferns, geraniums, palms, 



azaleas) 1,000 



Pansies 750 



Asters, phlox, and verbenas in boxes . . 200 



Lettuce 300 



Tomato plants i ,000 



Celery plants 500 



Cabbage and cauliflower plants .... 400 



S7,75o 



The itemized expenses are as follows: 



Heating S 500 



Four men at $1 . 50 per day for one year 



about 1,800 



Six women at one dollar per day . . . 1,800 



Seeds 100 



Water rental 25 



Repairs and incidentals 50 



Keeping two horses 200 



Interest on investment of S7,ooo . . . 350 



Total 84,825 



Net profit, or labor income for one year's 



work 82,925 



Callas. Easter and Bermuda lilies, asparagus, etc., grown for floral 



UP " work 



• made- 



Every available space utilized to start seedling plants for wMcli there is a 



constant trade 



