G. C. WATSON, PHILADELPHIA, TRADE LIST, FALL, 1896. 
3 
Some Reasons Why 
Florists should pay more attention to 
Growing Bulbous Stock. 
Most florists know the value of the many varieties of bulbs and roots 
suitable for forcing, in furnishing a continuous supply of flowers, either cut 
or in pots, during the whole season ; but there are few who avail themselves 
to the fullest extent of this admirable class of stock. Too many confine 
themselves to a batch of this or that variety for Easter or Christmas, whereas 
they might, by planting small lots of many kinds in succession, have a con- 
tinuous supply all through the season. The room taken up by this method is 
almost nominal as the pots or boxes can be stored in cold frames and pits 
and other places where they are out of the way and need only be taken in as 
they are wanted. Freesias may be planted in this way from June on, fol- 
lowing with California Callas, Roman Hyacinths, Paper White Narcissus, 
Allium, Ornithogalum and other early French Bulbs, and later with Dutch 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, Valley, and other forcing stock. 
Rushing the whole crop in at one time has been greatly overdone, until 
now the prices realized at the holidays are little if any better than during the 
rest of the season, while the care and expense required to bring the crop in 
on the dot is much greater. This being the case, it needs little argument to 
convince any one that extending the period of production and increasing the 
variety of product will produce better average returns at less cost of production. 
In addition to being easily cultivated and taking up little room, another 
point in favor of this class of stock is the low cost of the bulbs. As the 
tendency of the times has been steadily towards lower prices, in flowers as in 
everything else, ''e florist must have stock that he can sell at prices in harmony 
therewith, and there is nothing that so well fills the bill in all particulars, 
as bulbous stock. During the past season, Lilies, Romans, Freesias, Hyacinths, 
Callas, Daffodils, and other bulbs sold well and realized fair prices, in fact, on 
some items more could have been sold at good figures than was to be got. 
Indications point to an equally good market next season, and I feel sure that 
in recommending a more judicious and more liberal planting of the various 
sorts of forcing bulbs and roots, I am pointing the way to a paying investment. 
If the stock is properly handled, ready sale at good figures is about as 
certain as anything in that way can be. 
G. C. WATSON. 
