The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-09
riorleui,ure I'm the United states.

Potter Henderson In Garden and Forest
At the beginning Of the present century
Il Is not probable that there were 100 flor
lists in the United States, and their COM
bined greenhouse structures could not
have exceeded $1,000 square feet Of glass.
There arc now more than 10, 600 florists
distributed through every State and Ter
ritory in the Union, and estimating 5000
square feet Of glass TO each, the total area
would be 50,0O0,00O feet, or about ] 900
acres Of greenhouses. The value Of the
bare structures, with heating apparatus,
ut 60 cents per square foot, would be So
100000, while the stock Of plants grown In
them would not be- less than twice that
sum. The present rate OF growth In the
business Ia about 20 per cent per annum,
which proves that II u keeping well abreast
OF our most flourishing industries.
The business, too, Is conducted by bet
ter class Of men. No longer than thirty
yoan ago Il was rarc 10 find any other than
foreigner engaged In commercial ilori-
culture. These men had usually boon
private gardeners, who were mostly uned.
ucatcd and without business habits. But
/ today the men OF this calling compare IA
/ yorably In intelligence and business capac-
ity with any mercantile clas.
Horticulture has attained such import
ancc that II has taken lis place m n regular
branch 81 study In some OF our agricul-
tural colleges. Of late yoars, too, SCORES
Of young men In all parts Of the country
have been apprcnticing themselves 10 the
large establishments near tho cities, and
already some Of these have achieved ahigh
standing, Tor the training 20 received by a
lad from sixteen 10 twenty better eta him
for the business here than ten years OF
European experience, because much OF
what ia learned thcre would provo wonc
than useless here.
Commercial Horticulture includes two
distinct branches, one for the production
Of flowers aud the other for the production
Of planla During the past twenty years
the growth In the flower department 81
tho business has ouistrippcd the growth Of
the plant department. The increase In
the sale Of roscbuds In winter Is especially
noteworthy. Al the present time Il II sale
Ia say that onc-third of the entire glnss
structures in the United States aro used ioI
this purpose; many largo growers having
from two 10 three acres In houses devoted
20 roses alone. such ercctions costing from
$50. 900 10 500 900 each, according 10 the
style In which they arc built
Mow cut flowers are used Tor decoration
! In tho United States than In any Other
country, and II II probable that there arr
moro ilowen sold In New York than In
London, with population three times n
great In London and Paris, however
nearly every door-yard and window o
city and suburb. show the householder
love for plants, while with Us, particularly
, In the vicinity Of Now York philadelphia
, and Boston are bcttcrl, the use OF living
plants for home decoration Is far less gen
. oral.
There are fashions In flowers, and thcy
continually change. Thirty ycan AZ
thousand. 81 camcllia flowers were rctailcc
. In the holiday season for q each, whil'
rosebunds would not bring a dime Now
many Of tho fancy roses sell nj Il each
, while camollia flowers 90 begging nj II
I cents. Tho chrysanthcmum Il now rival
ing the rose. NJ well u may, and no doub
every decade will see the rise and fall O
some floral fayoritc. But beneath thosl
, fitting fancios IL the substantial and un
changing love Of flowers that scem 10 b
an original instinct In man, and ono tina
! grows In strength with growing runnomont
Fashion mac now and again condemn on
flower or another, but the fashion Of neg
: Letting flowers altogether will mover pre-
| vail, and we may safely look forward II
the expectation 81 an ever increasing In
' tcrcst and demand. steady improvement
, In methods 81 cultivation, and TO now an,
, attractive developments In form, color ant
fragrance.