EVERLASTING FLOWERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 69

EVERLASTING FLOWERS

In Cape Colony the gathering, drying and packing for export of the Jdeli‘chrysum vestitum (Everlasting Flower) constitutes a very important industry in Hermanns, Stanford, and. one or two other villages and hamlets in the division of Caledon, on the southwest coast of South Africa. The area over which these flowers grow is limited to this corner of the colony,, and the whole industry is monopolised by two or three men, who partly own and further lease the right of gathering, and who have erected extensive buildings for drying and packing the flowers. In the Western State of tlpo Commonweal+h, Australia possesses ~in asset Gf the same charaoter, and it is. possible that the extensive fields ( of wild flowers may be turned to profitable account,r The idea is at least worthy of consideration. Writing in the “Gardenrs’ ' Chronicle,” Mr S. A. Docon -describes the South African industry as follows; ' „

The “flower houses’ 0 and their strange gaol-like appearance with , large sheets of perforated iron substituted for ordinary ’windows • (to insure a constant draught) greatly puzzles the uninitiated as to their origin and use. During the season such enormous quantities of these everlastings daily come in from the vefdt—borne not only on the heads of women and children, but in bullock waggon loads at a time—that, especially in such an exceptionally good season as we are having this year, these flower houses prove quite too small for the purpose for which they were erected, so that dn order to obtain the necessary drying space every available loft in the place is hired, the price paid, varying from os to £1 per month per loft. Having only, within the last six months taken up my abode at the lovely and popular seaside resort of Herinanus, and knowing nothing previously of this curious industry, I was uot a little surprised when . abruptly asked a few days ago by an agent of the monopoliser of the industry in these parts, whether I would mind letting my loft for fifteen or twenty days. Not caring to have my privacy invaded. I at first strongly objected, and only consented after having ascertained that almost every loft in the town — containing alb out 120 houses—was hired, and most of them already full of these flowers. So, not to be moi;e churlish than my neighbours, I, upon being assured that access to my loft could be had from a door in the gable, and that I should not he disturbed, I agreed, in consideration of the payment of a moderate sum, to have immortelles dumped down' over my body whilst yet numbered with the living, for a period of one calender month. Although I V have had experience enough and to spare of the drying process, I find it difficult to get information respecting-the business r side of this industry. In reply to iny inquiries. I have been politely told that the prices given and obtained were “business matters” —affairs. of Egypt, in fact, and not communicable. I know, however, that the price paid to the gatherers—who pluck the flower with about an inch of stem attached—is only Is 6d per three-bushel bag, whose contents, when dried, would weigh probably 391 b- I have also been assured by. a man whose father was one of the pioneers of this industry that some twelve or fifteen years ago these flowers sold in Capetown for £1 sterling per pound! It is well-known, that this same pioneer was a comparatively poor man upon his entering upon a lease of a farm on which these flowers grow in great profusion, and that aftei a few years’ tenancy he purchased the farm for £6OOO all made out of everlastings.