, 1885-06-17
PLANTS AND FLOWERS.
INCREASING INTEREST TAKEN IN
THEIR CULTIVATION.


ANY one who has been in London in
the summer months can not but contrast
the difference in the appearance Of tho
flower decorations in the windows and
balconies in the streets OF London with
those Of Few \ ork. Almost every dwell
ling IN London has It's window box. from
which flowers OF every imaginable shade
and color droop in profusion. rendering
the view down the street a visit Of glo
rious eoloring. New York is rapidly imi.
iating London In this particular. although
flowers will probably never be so cXten-
sively grown in dwellings here as there.
for the reason that our climate Is not so
well adapted t. their growth. Our hot.
scorcliug, dry air during the months OF
June. July and August renders the cult
vation Of window plants much more diff
tcult here than In England On the
other hand, we have advantages in the
culture Of many tropical plants for our
gardens. which DO much better in our hot
climate than in England. For example.
the coleus, which we nave now IN almost
every imaginable shade OF leaf -marking.
has here an increased brilliancy under our
tropical summer sun which in Europe IL
never assume
The plants sold in our markets now
are principally roses, geraniums, vcrbenas.
carnations, ~mignonette. daisies. pansies.
heliotropes. palms and other ornamental
leaved plants. together with coleus and
similar foliage plants in great variety.
All the plants at the market are sold In
pots, principally to grocers. butchers and
others who retail them. These buy them
direct from the wagons of the florists who
are the growers and then retail them at
usually about double the wholesale price.
This is necessary. be ause they are diff
cult things to handle in pots. and also
because being perishable. there is some
loss. for If q plant bought at the market
goes out Of bloom 1t is of little use TO
retail. although in reality it Is often just
as good as when in bloom. If not better.
Another great mart for the sale of
flowers is nov the horticultural auction
rooms. situated in this neighborhood and
other downtown streets. These arc sup
piled mainly by the large wholesale grow
ers in New Jersey and Long Island They
are put up in lots packed TO ship. and
large buyers find that they not only buy
cheaper but get plants in better shape at
the auction rooms til n In the markets.
from The fat Of their being all packed to
ship The purchasers are largely the
Wholesale florists who buy 10 supply their
stock for retailing, although a number of
private gentlemen buy largely for the
decoration Of their grounds In the sub
~ 70 UNIV k1bAAIAA1h Oh1 AOA ltno
than q, 1000 plants for that purpose. MS
they ind that they can often buy cheaper
from those who make a special business
Of growing them han they can grow
them themselves. even when having regu
lar gardeners and greenhouses for the
purpose Ees.des the sales of plants in
this way in u large cities. immense
quantities are shipped every day by the
different express companies TO ali parts of
the country. and also by mail.
This sending plants by mail has prob
ably done more to engender and diiIuse
the taste in plant culture than anything
else, rs il places plants in the hands OF
those who have a love for flowers in every
town and hamlet on the continent The
postoinue department c aims that thus far
II has been Improbable. but ii has un
doubtedly been q benefit to the com
munity in diflusing a taste for the bcauti.
full Ia flowers. The dirt is all removed
from the roots Of the plant. which are
then wrapped up in paper and forwarded
for l cent an ounce. They will live for a
week In this condition. thus giving su,li-
cient time 10 scnl thcm to California If
necessary.
Although New York in many of its
public Institutions leads all other cities,
yet in the decoration Of its parks with
overs il is ,adly behind Chicago. Phila-
delphia Boston. Albany, Allegheny City
and many Others Of lesser size are far
ahead in the decoration Of public flower
beds Of both New YORK and brooklyn. In
the Lincoln and South parks of Chicago
at least 100. 900 plants are used for the
decoration of their Tower beds each sea
son. aud it is u OF the principal attrac
tons Of the PARKS. while II is doubtful If
In Central park. New York. and Prospect
park, brooklyn. together, one-tcnih OF
thai number are used
The vexed Question, Are plants In.
furious in living and sleeping roomsY' is
now settled. Plants undoubtedly ri e oil
n iurious gases. especially in the night.
but the quantity is so minute hat we
have the word Of our friends the scientists
that there can be no possible harm re.
sulting. This is further proven y the
robust health Of hot house employees. The
influence Of plants as health baromeiers is
also beginning to be appreciated. A plant
will droop in any atmosphere which is
unheallhful for a human being, and
hence a thrifty lot of plants In the room
is proof positive hat the ventilation is
good. the furnace working right. and the
sewer gas kept in the obsourity for which
ii was designed.