The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-28
The Flower Business.
New. York SUM-

For the first time Horticulture as an
industry was made subject of special
investigation by the last census. In
fact, it is only within recent years that
it has assumed proportions in this
country justifying such a systematic
iAquiry.
Nearly two-thirds Of the 1865 estab-
lishments in existence when the CEN
sus was taken were started during the
last twenty years, and more than one
third during the last ten years. Four
| fifths of the whole business Of the COM
| mercial florists 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 $685.
OO0,0OO was invested in the fixtures
and heating apparatus. Nearly 1,OUV
men and 1000 women were employed
in the cultivation and its attendant in
dustries, and the total value of the
plants and shrubs produced was more
than $12,000,O00, and of cut flowers
more than Sl4,000,0O0.
So far as the public taste is indicate d
by the purchases, the rose is unques-
tionably the favorite popular flower.
One firm alone reported the sale OF a
million of the plants in 1889. The
plants are grown in very small pots
which ar sent by post throughout the
Union. Of cut flowers, next to tie
rose, and closely following it, carna-
tions are most in demand, the two to-
gether furnishing nearly two-thirds of
the receipts from sales. Then come vio-
let's, chrysanthemums, lilies, hyacinths,
heliotrope, pansies, tulips, and few
others, making up one-quarter of the
total value. The remainder, or about
one-tenth. is furnished by the demand
for orchids, tuberoses, mignonette,
calnellias, and the rest. The majority
of the reports describe roses as the
most profitable product, with carna-
tions second, and violets third. Of the
Towering plants sold in the Northern
and Eastern States, geraniums are
most in demand. In the South they
come after roses and chIJ aanthemus,
and in California after these two and
carnations also.
The greatest centres for the propaga-
ton of roses are in Pennsylvania, 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 near
ness to New York, the greatest market.
It's sales of cut flowers amounted in
value to nearly sl,300,0C0.
Plants are the specially of some
florists and cut flowers of others, and
some supply both, selling most Of their
product by wholesale. Others, again,
devote themselves to carnations or
violets, their business also, where it is
large, being almost entirely whole
sale.
The increase in the demand is steady,
aud it extends all over the Union. 1t
is the result of the growth of house dec
oration, of the spreading taste and de-
sire for the beautifying of private
grounds, of greater and more general
love for flowers among both rich and
poor, and the decrease in prices be-
cause of the increase in production.
One of the florists reports that "the
mechanic is the best customer in our
parts" "Cut flower business among
poor classes is increasing" reports
another. In 1880 there were scarcely
so shops for the sale of flowers in this
city lin 1890 there were about 250, all
doing brisk business. Now we have
a flower market in the early morning
in Union square to supply the growing
demand.
If you look at the windows of the
tenement houses, you Will see that IN
a great part of them are Towering
plants. Plants and flowers are now
the favorite means by which the
houses of the rich, their drawing rooms
and dining tables, are decorated. A
large entertainment in the circle of
fashion always involves great outlay
for them on the part of the host
and of his guests individually;
and their use for such purposes has
grown rapidly and is still extending
wherever wealth has its seat.
It isa beautiful custom. refining, civ
ilizing, expanding; and, moreover, it
gives stimulus to industry in which
many thousands Of men and women
are employed the year through. The
growth of the love Of flowers and of the
use of flowers is happy indication in
in any country. They are the works
of natures art, Of beauty and perfec-
ton to which other arts do not attain.
Through them the taste of the people
is most efficiently cultivated.
The entering wedge Of complaint
that nav nr0Va fatal is often a SLIGHT