http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.legal/...74d7adee538af15?

"Bulb traders would be recognised by many of the players of credit and housing markets today. Of course they had importers who would bring fresh bulbs from the wilds of Turkey. They had futures dealers who acted as agents for contracts between growers and prospective buyers or speculators. They had what we'd call "flippers" who would option to buy a bulb but planned to sell before its production. They had wholesale dealers and dealers who specialised only the the rare and expensive bulbs. Many simply loaned money at interest for others to buy and speculate."