Special Articles 
71 
of the small seed store, always prefers to do his ordering personally, 
seldom trusting to a clerk. 
But in the extensive establishments, especially in the great whole- 
sale or jobbing houses, when the proprietor or his partners are occu- 
pied with the more important work of supervision, the buying or 
purchasing is placed in the hands of a seed buyer. This person is a 
special confidential clerk, selected for his long practical experience in 
the seed business. He is chosen because of a clear, patient head for 
details, because he is possessor of a matured mind, sound judgment, and 
keen powers of observation. He thoroughly understands all the arts 
of growing seeds, and has a complete knowledge of the seed growers 
in the world. In his duties, he has the addresses of these growers 
tabulated or cataloged, and he has also tabulated in concise, ready, 
handy form all data pertaining to prices, quotations and oiferings on 
contract or surplus, as issued by and received from the different grow- 
ers and the most important o^f the wholesale or jobbing houses. 
Another of his duties Ls to keep a special book or record of con- 
tracts or purchases. This book is a complete history of every purchase 
in the course of the business year. Each variety has a space in the 
book to itself. The best form is to have the book ruled and printed 
with proper headings printed over the ruled columns. These columns 
are ranged side by side, headed variously, “on hand” or “carried for- 
ward from last year,” “date contract,” “grower or seller,” “date invoice,” 
“date arrival,” “quantity purchased,” “quantity delivered,” “price,” 
“duty,” “freight,” “add’l expense,” “total cost,” “total full quantity,” 
“quantity unsold end of season,” “total sold,” “vitality delivery,” “vital- 
ity following season.” 
An extra column or two, with heading blank, may be added for 
other purposes. 
Another of his duties is to maintain a constant touch with liis 
growers and sellers while crops arc growing till harvest and shipment, 
receiving from time to time reports of progress and conditions. 
Also his duty is to make stated visits to the trial grounds, where 
he notes in the book of record of the superintendent of the trial grounds, 
his own personal examinations, comparisons and views of the different 
tests, which book or a duplicate of it, is finally retained on his own 
desk for reference. 
He secures reports of the vitality tests after they have been finished 
in the testing room. These tests are made, first on arrival of the stock 
Special Articles in the 1915 Edition 
The following articles appeared 
Common Points of the Law 
Ptoductivlty of Carnations 
Hints on Greenhouse Construction and 
Heating. 
Starting into Business as a Grower 
in the 1915 edition of this Annual: 
Hydrocyanic Acid Gas as a Fumigant 
The Use of Cement hy Florists 
Development in the Middle West 
Business Suggestions for the Retailer 
Florists’ Delivery Cars 
