AUGUST 17. 1899. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



275 



F. R. Pierson, Vice-President-Elect, Society of American Florists. 



acquaintance with others engaged in 

 the trade.'' 



The committee of the Chrysanthe- 

 mum Society of America met in Chi- 

 cago each Saturday from October 23rd 

 to November 27, and certificated Solar 

 Queen, Australian Gold, Black Hawk. 

 Madison, Mrs. 0. P. Bassett. Frank 

 Hardy, Iowa, Snow Queen. Mrs. Win. 

 B. Brown, Rustique and Wm. H. Chad- 

 wick. 



Nothing startling originated in Illi- 

 nois the past year, although some 

 sports will figure largely among the 

 Chicago growers. Notably a red sport 

 of old Tidal Wave, named Evanston, 

 and also a white Daybreak. One grow- 

 er has a seedling pink he named Pink 

 Beauty, that has merit. Another 

 named one Carter Harrison; doubtful 

 if new, however. 



The connecting link of boulevard 

 that when done finishes the connec- 

 tion of Lincoln pai k and the West 

 Side park system, is now under way. 

 and will make a forty-mile continuous 

 driveway and park, surrounding the 

 city of Chicago, just in time for the 

 automobile era. The agitation is now 

 for small parks among the thickly set- 

 tled parts of the city — breathing places 

 for the masses. 



Finally. I think the signs of the 



times do point to a general prosperous 

 era that may run for some time. If I 

 may be permitted to offer advice to 

 young men in the harness, if this holds 

 good, now's your time to get on a solid 

 basis, but be careful during the pros- 

 peiousi years, or the bad years, when 

 they do come again, will get away with 

 you. Or put it thus: "When the har- 

 vest comes the wise farmer thinks of 

 the winter. It should be that way in 

 all periods of prosperity." Let the 

 florist take it to heart. 



EDGAR SANDERS. 



Eastern New York. 

 It is with pleasure that I am able to 

 report a better feeling in trade gener- 

 ally than was possible at the last 

 meeting of our society. Inquiry re- 

 veals the fact that in Eastern New 

 York the quantity of commercial 

 greenhouse building done during the 

 year that has elapsed has increased 

 about 25 per cent over the correspond- 

 i ing period of the year previous, while 

 i as regards what is termed "private 

 work" one building firm reports "there 

 has never been so good a year." 



It may not be out of place to quote 

 here the views of two of our leading 

 firms doing a general trade, on the 

 present condition and future outlook 



of business: "In a general way the 

 past year's business in plants was an 

 improvement upon the previous year. 

 This was probably brought about in 

 some measure by the general improve- 

 ment in business, but I think was due 

 largely to the very severe winter, 

 which killed a great many plants that 

 might otherwise have lived, and there- 

 fore created an unusual demand." 



"Trade has been good — our entire 

 line sold well; in fact, we had few 

 things that were unsalable. Carna- 

 tions have suffered somewhat from 

 drouth, but are picking up rapidly, as 

 recent rains have supplied abundant 

 moisture. Business prospects for 1900 

 are very favorable. No dark clouds in 

 sight as yet." 



Probably the greatest increase dur- 

 ing the year has been made in the 

 number of violet growers in the Hud- 

 son river district. No fewer than 

 seven new men have embarked in this 

 branch around Rhinebeck, N. Y., their 

 total augmentation of glass represent- 

 ing some 25.000 square feet. Reports 

 of the crop conditions as regards vio- 

 lets indicate that the plants are look- 

 ing bright, healthy and free from dis- 

 ease. 



The cut flower trade shows a mark- 

 ed improvement over the previous 

 year, and has generally been satisfac- 

 tory. The plant business, both at 

 Easter and Christmas times, continues 

 on the increase and has caused some 

 apprehension in the minds of the cut- 

 flower growers. 



We have not yet reached that stage 

 when all our supplies can be obtained 

 within the boundaries of our exten- 

 sive territory, some $564,413 worth of 

 stock of one kind and another having 

 been received at the port of New York 

 alone during the last fiscal year. 



A branch of the business that keeps 

 on growing is the sale of plants at 

 auction. Never in the history of the 

 auction rooms of New York city has 

 such a trade been done as this year. 

 and at improved prices. One firm of 

 auctioneers reports an increase of 25 

 per cent over last year's trade. There 

 is also a growing tendency to hold 

 auction sales on the premises, a means 

 of disposal of stock which is said to be 

 not without its benefits. 



Chrysanthemums. — The first chrys- 

 anthemums to reach this market last 

 fall in quantity were of the variety 

 Mme. Gastellier, on September 17. A 

 study of the chrysanthemum market 

 would seem to indicate that in the 

 height of the season the prices ob- 

 tained in 189S were somewhat lower 

 than in 1897. and that at times the 

 market was quite druggy; attributed 

 by some to the waning interest in the 

 Queen of Autumn. There was, how- 

 ever, as usual, a satisfactory sale for 

 good stock. During the season of 1898 

 the New York committee of the Chrys- 

 anthemum Society of America granted 

 certificates to the following varieties: 

 Polly Rose, Mme. Lucie Faure, Mrs. 

 F. A. Constable. Mrs. G. J. Warren 

 I exhibition only). Colonel D. Apple- 



