CUT FLOWERS UNDER GLASS 73 



America. The commercial importance of 

 this one branch of the florist's trade is already 

 enormous and the tendency is for its con- 

 tinued increase. About 2,000,000 square 

 feet of glass are used in the greenhouses 

 devoted exclusively to the production of roses 

 for the cut-flower market in one large "rose 

 factory" area within twenty-three miles of 

 New York City. Under this cover an army 

 of 450 men is continuously at work, and fully 

 $20,000 a year are paid for the carriage of the 

 floral burden from the growing districts to the 

 city market. These figures represent but one 

 district — the most important one, it is true — 

 but they should be doubled to be fairly rep- 

 resentative of the united sources of supply 

 for that one city. This will suffice to show 

 the immensity of the demand for good roses. 

 In these establishments the operations are 

 carried out upon a gigantic scale, but in their 

 details do not differ from what is necessary 

 for the private grower who desires to raise 

 roses under glass for home use. If it is 

 intended to grow roses at all, it will be worth 

 while to make one's plans to do the work 

 thoroughly. A " cheap" greenhouse may be 

 a continual source of worry and expense. 



