DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 



315 



the flowers out of this temperature, they are tied in bunches of 

 a dozen stalks each, mostly by girls and women, and then put 

 into water, and on the morning of departure are packed in single 

 layers in small wooden boxes. 



I cannot speak of the best sorts of manure for the bulbs with 

 any degree of certainty. Some will take any amount ; to others 

 manure is death ; some like seaweed, others will not stand it. 

 Speaking generally, the stronger-growing varieties will take 

 manure in a decomposed state with advantage, while in dealing 

 with the weaker sorts manuring should be avoided. 



The rapid increase in the export between 1887 and 1888 

 made it evident that the flower traffic would soon be beyond the 

 carrying capacity of the steamer. There had been over ten tons 

 in a day then ; so that in 1889 a larger steamer had to be built, 

 longer, broader, and drawing more water. This necessitated a 

 considerable addition to the pier, thousands of tons of granite were 

 put into the sea to export frail and delicate flowers ; otherwise 

 the flowers would constantly have to be shipped overnight, and 

 remain in the hot hold of the steamer sixteen hours before 

 starting, to their great detriment, the old pier being tidal. The 

 addition to the pier was made and completed in time for the 

 traffic of this year, this extension, with the original pier, costing 

 £14,000. Up to this year, while the trade was in embryo, no 

 pier dues whatever for flowers had been charged ; but before 

 the extension was decided on, the inhabitants were asked if they 

 objected to pay ordinary pier dues, including 6d. per cwt. on 

 flowers. There was no objection raised, and the extension was 

 in consequence made in answer to the unanimous desire of the 

 islanders. 



With this considerable capital invested there is very little 

 chance of the pier paying a reasonable percentage ; while, in the 

 event of the traffic failing, the present owner has to bear the 

 whole of the risk. The original through carriage to London was 

 9s. per cwt. Two years ago I negotiated a reduction to 7s. 6d., 

 so that, with the present pier due of Qd. added, it costs Is. per 

 cwt. less to send flowers to London than it did two years ago. 



There is no sign at present of any diminution in the demand 

 for flowers ; but we may, of course, be defeated in the end by 

 foreign competition, as many other English trades have been. 

 The prices will have to be considerably lower before it becomes 



