154 
Gardeners and Florists’ Annual for 1918 
Importing and Exporting 
It is but little exporting that is done by the florists or nursery- 
men of this country, but a large amount of importing is done. Prob- 
ably, for all except those who regularly undertake the work, the best 
way is to import through a broker whose experience is invaluable 
and who can furnish the exporter on the other side with full instructions 
as to the proper methods of packing, etc. Any one contemplating 
the importation of stock can make application to the Federal Horticul- 
tural Board at Washington, D. C., for a permit, and that board will 
supply much information in regard to the processes and requirements. 
There are several forms to be filled and certificates to be obtained, but 
in the case of limited importations it is, as said, perhaps best to handle 
through a broker or leave the matter to the regular importers. It is 
well to observe that no stock, even of small quantities of bulbs or roots, 
is allowed through the mails. This must be forwarded by express so that 
all imports can be examined at the port of entry. Any diseased or 
insect-infested stock that cannot be cleaned by disinfection or treat- 
ment, is refused entr 5 ^ But seeds may come through the mails. For 
much fuller particulars in regard to importing and exporting see 
]>ages 7,? to 78 G. and F. y\nnual 1915. 
Insurance 
Fire insurance on greenhouses can usually be secured through local 
agents or brokers. In States where rating bureaus prevail, or in which 
rating laws are in force, very frequently a reduction in general rate can 
be secured on modern-built greenhouses, by applying for a specific rate, 
in which any steps taken to prevent fire are taken into consideration. 
Insurance on greenhouse stock is more difficult to secure, and the rate 
is usually exorbitant. 
Windstorm and tornado insurance .on greenhouses is not written, 
with the exception of an agency in Chicago, managed by l''lorian O. 
Wallace, which accepts such insurance in certain localities. 
Insurance against hail is written by the Florists’ Hail Association 
of America at a rate based on the actual average cost of insurance 
for the preceding 10 years. The rate was 20 cents per 100 sq. ft. 
on single thick glass and 8 cents per 100 on double thick glass. An 
insurance company in Lancaster, Pa., accepts local hail insurance and a 
mutual company in Indiana also insures glass against hail. 
For years • the regular line fire insurance companies have looked 
upon greenhouse Insurance with distrustful eyes and, from motives not 
thoroughly understood, they quote a higher rate than we believe is 
called for or justified. The impression prevails that the fire losses 
in growing establishments are very heavy and out of all proportion 
to the premiums paid. This reasoning we consider fallacious. The fact 
of the case is that the rate is so uniformly high that the greenhouse 
owner prefers to take his own risk rather than pay the exorbitant 
rate demanded. Consequently the companies which grant greenhouse 
