The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-07-03
THE FLOWER BUSINESS.
What the Recent Census shows in Re-
gard to Horticulture.


For the first time Horticulture as an
industry was made a subject of special
investigation by the last census In
fact, it is only within recent years that
il has assumed proportions in this coun-
try juStifying such a systematic inquiry.
Nearly tyvo-thirds of the 1863 estab-
lishments in existence. says the New
York sun, when the census was taken
were started during the last twenty
years. and more than one-third during
the last ten years. Four-hfths OF the
whole business of the commercial flor
lists has been developed within twenty
five years
The census report shows that the
whole number of acres covered with
glass was nearly 900. More than S3S,-
OOO, 900 were invested IN the fixtures and
heating apparatus. Nearly 1000 men
and {. 900 women were employed in the
cultivation and its attendant industries,
and the total value OF plants and shrubs
produced was more than Sl2. OO0. .0O0. and
of cut flowers more than Sl+,OOo,O0O.
So far as the public taste is indicated
by the purchases the rose is unquestion-
ably the favorite popular flower One
firm alone reported the sale of a million
of the plants in 1859. The plants are
grown in very small pots, which are
sent by post throughout the union. OF
cut flowers, next TO the rose and closely
following it, carnations are mostly in
demand. the two together furnishing
nearly two-thirds of the receipts from
sales. Then come violets. chTysanthe-
NUNS, lilies hyacinths, heliotropcs,
pansies. tulips and few Others. max
ing up one-quarter of the total Vaiuc-
The remainder, or about one-tenth- Is
furnished by the demand for orchids,
tuberoSes, InIgnOnettc. camelliaS and
the rest. The ma iOrity OF the reports
describe roses as the most profitable
product. with carnations second and
violcts third. OF th,. lowering plants
sold in the northern and eastern states
geraniums ;,re most in demand In the
south they come after roses and chrys-
anthemums and IN California after
these two and carnations also.
The greatest center, Tor the propaGa-
tiOn of roses are in Pcnnsylyani;.. illi
nois and Ohio and of hardy plants in
Illinois, New York and Kansas The
sales of cut flowers are largest in total
value in New York. Illinois and Penn
sylvania, the states where the greatest
cities and the largest wealth are Pro-
portionately to its size New Jersey does
the largest business in cut flowers, and
for the obvious reason of its nearness to
New York. the greatest market. Its
sales of cut flowers amounted in value
To nearly II. BOO. 900.
Plants are the speciality of some flor
lists and cut flowers Of others and some
supply both, selling most Of their
product by wholesale. Others, again,
devote themselves TO carnations or vio-
lets, their business also, where ii Is
large, being almost entirely wholesale
The Increase in the demand il steady
and 1t extends all over the union 1t r.
the rcsnt of the growth of hou~, deco
ration. of the spreading taste and desire
for the beautIfyinE of private grounds.
of greater and mere general love for
flowers among rlcn ana poor ana the
decrease in prices because of the in
crease in production.