ISHS Acta Horticulturae 177: IV International Symposium on Flower Bulbs
QUALITY CONTROL - INCENTIVES TO IMPROVEMENT |
| Author: | Ir. H. van Os |
| Abstract:
When, at the time of the Industrial Revolution, handwork was replaced by mechanical production, it was quantity above all that was in great demand. Later, and mostly forced by competition, it was realized that apart from quantity and price, quality is one of the pillars on which production rests. Henceforth quality became a topic discussed in all spheres of our present society. It is possible to discuss it to such a large extent, because quality cannot be described in general terms. For a large part it is a subjective notion, based on the expectations of the people involved and these expectations are not the same for everyone. And this most certainly holds true for the quality of flower bulbs. Essentially there are three different purposes for their use and the demands made on quality will vary accordingly. First of all there is the grower himself, who uses the plants to maintain a certain stock or for the purpose of propagation. He expects the plants to possess vegetative force, to be free from harmful organisms that do damage to the production and to be true to type. Secondly professional use can be made of flower bulbs as raw material for flower production. Here too, vegetative force is important in the sense that the flowers have to come to an even development. The bulbs should also be free from diseases or harmful organisms that may affect the development of the plants unfavourably or do damage to the outward appearance of flowers or leaves. Trueness to type and good treatment for flowering are of importance. The last group of users consists of you and me, who buy bulbs to plant them at home or in the garden in order to let them flower there. In any case these bulbs will have to come up to the expectations that were roused when purchased. The least one can expect is 'low' to be low, 'early' to be early, en 'red' to be red. Furthermore they should be free from diseases or damages that may unfavourably affect either the development or the appearance of the plant. It is clear, that normally there will be a relation between quality and price. As long as it is impossible to sell bulbs with a realistic quality mark, it is for the buyer not possible to relate his price to the wanted quality. It may seem that from the different demands made on the product by the three different groups of users, it would be easy to draw up a general quality standard. Small graduations and the difference in appreciation for the various aspects make this particularly difficult. | |
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