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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



novelty that has come to the front ; but they must make their mark while yet they have 

 a partial monopoly of the secret, for it is certain it will not be long before hundreds of 

 rivals will be contributing their quota to the supplies — prices quickly dropping 

 accordingly. 



Specialities pay better than general mixtures. Thus if a man is an expert in 

 carnation culture he ought to make that a speciality, not necessarily devoting all his 

 talent and energies towards producing this popular flower in large quantities, but 

 making that his principal feature. The time will soon come when he will have made a 

 reputation for carnations, and instead of sending his flowers to commission salesmen, ho 

 has to dispose of orders, which will probably be received from various directions for all 

 that he has to sell. Not merely is this much the more profitable method of distribution, 

 but the carnations help to sell various other flowers that the same grower may 

 provide. 



Similar remarks apply to a few other specialities. Eoses are always in demand, but 

 it is not given to all market gardeners to be able to produce them in a saleable condition 

 in profitable quantities. Lily of the valley can be grown finer in some nurseries than 

 others, and a good reputation for lilies pays. Cyclamens are even more difficult to 

 grow to perfection, and the few cultivators who excel in their production must reap a 

 golden harvest, as cut blooms, plants, and seeds, all sell at remunerative prices. Many 

 florists are glad to know where they can procure a few dozen arums quickly and 

 somewhat cheaply, and those growers who contract to supply this class of flower 

 regularly at a fixed and apparently low price all through the season, find it pays better 

 than sending their blooms to the markets, where the prices fluctuate so much. 

 Remember that various other flowers can, at times, be " worked in " with the~arums. A 

 reputation for violets is profitable to its possessor, and thanks to present Parcels Post 

 arrangements, sweet English-grown violets can be sent in fairly large quantities to any 

 part of the kingdom for a few pence. They are altogether better than the imported 

 flowers, temporarily scented in chemists' shops. 



The fragile nature of eucharises, pancratiums, gardenias and liliums, militate some- 

 what against these flowers as specialities ; but those who can both grow and pack them 

 successfully must find them profitable. It is the commoner, more easily-grown flowers 

 with which there is most competition. Among orchids, the supply of the larger kinds 

 of Cattleyas and others is apparently equal to the demand ; but as a speciality, 

 Odontoglossums, more particularly the cool-house section, also Dendrobium phalsenopsis 



