The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-06-07
The Rose-Groving Craze.


In consequence of the extraordinary
prices obtained for rosebuds during the
past two or three years, not only have
the regular florists used their large
profits in extending the greenhouse
structures for that purpose, but the
fabulous reports of the profits of rose
growing have excited the cupidity
of many capitalists in the vicinity OF
New York. Boston and Chicago, and in
all probability in the other large cities
of the Union. These men have an
abundance of means, and begin on O
scale usually at which the ordinary flor
ist, who had to climb his way up, ends;
so that we have already in the vicinity
of New York at least q dozen establish
ments for the forcing of rosebuds in
winter. owned by men who count their
capital by millions. These gentlemen,
of course, know nothing practically
about the business, relying altogether
upon their gardeners for success-for
who ever heard of millionaire floristP
Whether they do ST r,eed or not in max
ing a profit of fe..' thousand dollars a
year is not vital to III IN who count their
income by the hun.l I'D thousand; yet it
is curious with wha interest the rise or
fall of few cents II the rose market is
regarded even by them. New Jersey
has more than her quota of these mill
ionaire florists. Already we have four
in Madison, one in Summit, and two in
Orange, New jersey, and it is said that
there is as much interest manifested by
them in the prices at which, in the tech
nical slang of the hower-shops, Cooks"
"Jacks, ...Mermets'' and "Perles" are
quoted in Broadway as is evinced
in Wall Street in " Wabash" Lake
Shore" {" Erie" or Central" 1t is true
that one, at least, of these gentlemen
gives all the profits that accrue from bis
roses to charitable purposes; but it Is
feared that he has few imitators among
his compeers in this particular; for the
motive is the same as in all other invest
ments-to get the largest profit possible
from the smallest amount of money in
volved. Within the past twelve months
have been consulted by at least score
of gentlemen about to embark in the
business of rose-growing, and have no
doubt others of the trade have had the
same experience. 1t is true that many
of these amateur florists will get their
fingers burnt, and will not only never
realize a dollar. on their investments,
but will work at a loss; yet enough OF
~--~
risk, for ut present prices, when success
is attained, the profits are so great as tc
| produce the present ''crazeh on the sub
| iect-a s'craze" that probably will re-
suit exactly as the Morus Multicaulis die
| in 1910, or the grapevine fever in 1865
All experience shows that in the perish
able commodities of fruits, flowers, OF
vegetables, whenever an oversupply
floods the market and brings down the
prices below paying level, less is solo
than when they bring fair price. TwC
years ago, in June, strawberries ant
cabbage in the New York markets got 81
low as not to pay even the cost of mar
keting. The result was that hundred
| of loads had to be taken back ant
dumped in the manure yards, as the,
could not be disposed of at any price
Some thirty years ago peaches one da.
fell down to twelve cents basket il
Washington Market, New York, ant
would not sell at that. In those day
the crop was perhaps held by score o
dealers only. They got their heads to
gether and decided to destroy ever
peach in the market. 1t was done. !
scarcity was produced and in twenty
four hours peaches went up to one dolla
basket The leader in the movemen
had no doubt been disciple of Adar
Smith, and had wisely studied the law
of supply and demand.
The present excitement in rose-grow
ing is no doubt largely due to the un
precedented prices realized this winter
which have been caused in grea
measure by the unusual heat and drout
of last autumn, which weakened i
many cases, and in others entirely de
stroyed, the plants that would have bee
used to produce the crop of flowers
This, together with brisk demand, ha
resulted in profits which it is unreasor
able to expect can ever be long contir
ued in any legitimate business.-Pste
Henderson, in Gardeners Monthly.