Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-28
PLANTS AND FLOWERS.
INCREASING INTEREST TAKEN IN
THEIR CULTIVATION.
Taste for Flowers In the City-window
Plant Busiaeas-H Hort icuiturai Auc-
tion koems-Piants by Mail
Question Of Healthfulne~s.
New York Tribune Interview


ANY one who has been in London II
the summer months can not but contras
the difference in the appearance Of th'
flower decorations in the windows ant
balconies in the streets of London will
those Of Few \ ork Almost every dwell
ling in ondon has its window box, from
winch flowers of every Imaginable shad,
and color droop in profusion, rendering
the view down the street visit Of Clio
rious cooring New \ ork is rapidly imi
tating London in this particular. although
flowers will probably never be so eXten
sively grown In dwellings here as there
for the reason that our climate is not st
well adapted 10 their growth Our hot
scorching, dry air during the months 0i
June. July and August renders the cult
walton of window plants much more diff
ficuli here than in tngland On the
other hand. we have advantages in the
cultuye of many tropical plants for oul
gardens, which 60 much better in our hot
climate than in England For example
the coleus. which We have now in almost
every Imaginable shade of leaf marking
has here an increased briIliancy under ouI
tropical summer sun which in Europe il
never assumed
The plants sold in our markets now
are principally roses. geraniums. verbenas,
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 way ons of the florists who
are the growers and then retail them al
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 plant bought at the marke,
goes out Of bloom II 10 of little use 10
retail, although in reality it is often jus,
as good as when in bloom, II not letter.
Another great mart for the sale OF
flowers is now the Horticultural auction
rooms. situated in this neighborhood ard
other downtown streets These are 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 th n in the markets.
from the ia 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
urbs. Some gentlemen buy not less
than 5000 plants for that purpose. as
they find that they can often buy cheaper
from those who make q special business
of growing them than they can grow
them themselves. even when having regu.
lar gardeners and greenhouses for The
purpose. Besides the sa!es of plants in
this way in our large cities. immense
Quantities are shipped every day by the
different express companies to oil parts Of
the country. and also by mail
This sending plants by mail has prob
ably done more to engender and diffuse
the taste in plant culture than anything
else. as it places plants in the hands Of
those who have love for flowers in every
town and hamlet on the continent The
postotfioe department aims that thus far
it has been Improbable. but it has un
been . benefit to the com.
munity in difiusing a taste for the beauti
full in flowers The dirt is all removed
from the roots Of the plant. which are
then wrapped up in paper and forwarded
for cent an ounce. They will live for
week in this condition, thus giving sufIi-
cient time to send them to California IL
necessary.
Although New York in many of its
public institutions leads all other cities,
yet in the decoration of its parks with
lowers It is sadly behind Chicago, Phila-
delphs 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 I0OOOO plants are used for the
of their flower beds each sea
son, and it is one Of the principal attrac-
tions of the parks, while il is doubtful II
In Central park. New York. and Prospect
park, Brooklyn. together, onetenth of
that number are used
The vexed question. Are plants in
furious in living and sleeping roomss' is
now settled Plants undoubtedly give of
in furious gases, especially in the night
but the quantity Il 50 minute that We
have the word Of our friends the scientists
that there can be no possible harm re-
sulting This 10 further proven by the
robust health Of hot. house employees The
influence Of plants as health barometers 10
also beginning to be appreciated. A plant
will droop In any atmosphere which is
for q human being, and
hence q thrifty lot of plants in the room
Is proof positive that the ventilation Is
good. the furnace working right, and the
sewer gas kept in the obscurity for which
it was designed.