OCTOBER 20, 



The Weekly Florists^ Review, 



537 



A Corner in the Store of Adam Sekenger, Bangor, Me. 



amount of work and worry connected 

 with this flower business ot New Yorlc, 

 and notwithstanding all the grunts 

 and croaks heard about bad times and 

 comparisons with London and Paris, 

 we are forced to assert that the man 

 who knows what he is talking about 

 . must admit tliat there is no place on 

 earth like these United States of ours, 

 as far as flowers are concerned. Our 

 shops are the finest in the world, and 

 our standard in floral art is higher 

 than that of London, Berlin or Paris. 

 We use more cut flowers than the three 

 largest cities in Europe put together. 



The retailers of this country can 

 learn nothing from those abroad; per- 

 haps our growers could see a few 

 things over there we could use to ad- 

 vantage here. "We don't have as many 

 flowering plants as we might have, and 

 our decorative plant department is not 

 quite what it might be, but. dear editor, 

 it makes us tired when we hear of the 

 flower shops abroad with their made- 

 up designs and bouquets. Ah, yes. we 

 remember them well, with their wires 

 and sticks and paper frills, but none 

 of that for your Yankee who demands 

 roses 4 feet long; and here in New 

 York the best people will not buy a 

 flower out of a window; they go 

 straight to the ice-box and examine 

 your stock. Made-up affairs would not 

 sell here, only on special occasions 

 such as Easter and Christmas. Then 

 again we are told if the retailers would 



only sell cheaper they would dispose of 

 more stock, which is a very poor way 

 of placing the blame. If the growers 

 were only kind enough to sell cheaper 

 it might change the aspect of affairs. 

 It should be known and remembered 

 that there are many retail florists 

 whose annual rental and expenses 

 would be sufficient to buy outright 

 many, a large grower's establishment. 

 There are little troubles in all branches 

 of our business, many of which should 

 be taken philosophically. Extra fine 

 stock will always find a buyer, the 

 trouble is we get too much poor and 

 average stock, which can only be dis- 

 posed of by the street venders; for in- 

 stance, a great many of the small roses 

 such as Brides, Maids, etc., coming in 

 now, are very much mildewed, and that 

 disqualifies them for first-class trade. 

 There is, however, a noticeable im- 

 provement in many flowers and they 

 sell fairly well. 



Chrysanthemums are becoming very 

 plentiful, but .so far there is a very 

 poor demand for them; it looks as 

 though the mum is doomed. Prices for 

 all kinds of stock are very much the 

 same as we quoted last week. Violets 

 seem to be scarcer than at this time 

 last year. 



Bowling. 



The committee of the New York 

 Florists' Bowling Club have engaged 

 the Immen alleys, at the corner ot 



Thirty-second street and Fourth ave- 

 nue, for every Monday night, except 

 the night of the Florists' Club meeting, 

 when the bowlers will meet at 3 o'clock 

 in the afternoon. Several members of 

 the club were at the alleys last Mon- 

 day night and made very creditable 

 scores, considering they were first at- 

 tempts. All the members of the Flor- 

 ists' Club who are interested in bowl- 

 ing are requested to be present at the 

 alleys next Monday evening, Oct. 24, at 

 8 o'clock, for the purpose of forming 

 laws for the guidance of the members. 

 We understand there are many clubs 

 anxious to challenge the New Yorkers, 

 as soon as they are properly organ- 

 ized, and it is to be hoped the metrop- 

 olis won't be disgraced in these anx- 

 iously looked for contests. 



'Various Items. 



According to present prospects there 

 will be plenty of poor lilies next East- 

 er; 7 to 9 Harrisiis were very shy this 

 year, 5 to 7 seems to have been the 

 only size obtainable. Growers should 

 try a lot of these in large pots and save 

 the store people a lot of valuable time 

 consumed in making them up at East- 

 er. There will be more longiflorums 

 out this time, and it's a good thing, 

 too, for they are better keepers. 



Many of the prominent florists were 

 busy on floral designs for the funeral 

 of the late Mrs. August Belmont, which 

 took place on Oct. 18. Lily of the val- 

 ley, violets and orchids formed the 

 principal part of the flowers used; the 

 designs were mostly loose bunches and 

 wreaths; they were numerous and 

 beautiful. D. 



BOSTON. 



Review of the Market. 



This week has shown some of the 

 customary dullness which always pre- 

 vails during chrysanthemum season, 

 although the flrst part ot the week 

 showed up better than the last. A lit- 

 tle better demand was noticed for roses 

 and Madame Carnot seems to have the 

 call for popularity; the color appears 

 to hit the right place. Brides and 

 Maids are rapidly improving in qual- 

 ity, prices ranging from $4.00 to $8.00 

 per hundred. Meteors are rather slow 

 at about the same figures. Perles are 

 in good crop and sell for $4.00, while 

 Garnets of high grade will bring $1.00 

 per dozen. Beauties still hold their 

 own at last week's Quotations. 



Owing to the increased supply, of 

 chrysanthemums the usual slump of 

 the carnation market has begun, and 

 common, every day grades will not 

 bring over $1.00 per hundred, although 

 some finely grown blooms of course 

 command a premium, but $2.00 is the 

 limit, except for fancies, which sell 

 from $3.00 to $4.00; short whites aver- 

 age about 75 cents per 100. 



Chrysanthemums have held up pret- 

 ty fair all the week, but with the usual 

 increase of stock on Saturday took 

 quite a tumble. Madame Bergman is 



