588 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



NOVEMBER 9, 1S99. 



indicates that this is not universal. 

 It certainly is a tact that the benefit 

 of improved general business condi- 

 tions has been very slow to reach 

 around to the florist. Are those in 

 the trade themselves to blame for 

 this? Have we become so used to cut- 

 ting prices in the fierceness of com- 

 petition that we are selling our pro- 

 ducts at less than could be realized? 



This was intimated at the Detroit 

 convention of the S. A. F. We invite 

 a general expression of opinion on the 

 subject. Comment and criticism from 

 anyone in the trade will be welcomed. 

 —Ed.) 



BOSTON. 



Probably such a month of October 

 never was known in this section. After 

 two or three heavy frosts and the 

 same number of remarkably cold days 

 for the very beginning of the month, 

 we have had an unbroken procession 

 of the warmest of Indian summer days, 

 the heat being too excessive for com- 

 fort the larger part of the time. 



You can partially imagine the floral 

 result, but perhaps not completely. 

 Flowers not due for several weeks were 

 forced upon the market in one grand 

 outburst. Ripples of odds and ends, 

 waves of violets and pinks, billows of 

 roses and oceans of chrysanthemums 

 washed upon the shore of trade after 

 the effect of the cold snap had worn 

 away. Prices went down with a thud 

 and while buyers went away with gen- 

 erous bundles they did not seem to di- 

 minish the available quantity very 

 much, and the street fakir flourished 

 in conditions just to his taste, his 

 prices being about twenty-five per cent, 

 of that of the regular trade. 



Fancy pinks, $2 per hundred; ordi- 

 nary. 50 cents to $1. Best pink and 

 white roses ?6, and the poorest ones 

 unsalable at any price. Red ones cor- 

 respondingly cheap. A few very aris- 

 tocratic "mums" at $2 and $3 per doz- 

 en, but a one dollar bill took an awful- 

 ly good twelve of any color. Violets 

 from 20 to 75 cents per 100. and not 

 plentiful. 



Through the systematic efforts of a 

 gentleman whose duties take him to 

 the different hospitals of the city, and 

 the generosity of many of the growers. 

 a vast amount of surplus stock has 

 found its way into the hands of the 

 sick in the hospitals and a number of 

 letters from those institutions attest 

 appreciation. 



All signs continue for a big winter's 

 work. A few prominent ones have vis- 

 ited New York to gather new ideas, 

 make purchases and learn prices, more 

 are going soon, the woods are full of 

 runners soliciting orders and ship- 

 ments of different kinds are arriving 

 from across the water. 



A very pleasant appearing gentle- 

 man by the name of Phon has fitted up 

 a first class establishment on middle 

 Boylston street. He is all ready for a 

 good business and seems to be getting 



it. May good luck attend every good 

 man's effort. 



There is a whisper of a scarcity in 

 certain kinds of palms and in smilax. 



Wax Bros, have an interesting letter 

 from Washington acknowledging re- 

 ceipt of Imperial violet plants orderi -I 

 for government greenhouses and prais- 

 ing their appearance. 



Albert Scott's little new place over 

 on Beacon street is fitted up in a pai 

 ticularly neat and attractive manner, 

 and he is managing it properly. 



P. L. Carbone's ever increasing busi- 

 ness has necessitated the building of 

 an immense rose vault— which has 

 been done very ingeniously to utilize 

 a waste corner and makes a decoration 

 of it as well. 



A much better feeling prevails in the 

 wholesale markets this morning. Mon- 

 day, Nov. 6th. Goods nearly all sold, 

 but prices not materially changed. 



B. F. 



ST. LOUIS. 



The Market. 



Trade has been somewhat slower 

 with some of the florists, though some 

 of the West End florists report busi- 

 ness better than last week. The Horse 

 Show of the past week, which is one 

 of the fashionable events of the sea- 

 son, increased the demand for choice 

 stock. Beauties and select chrysan- 

 themums were used to considerable 

 extent. California violets also had a 

 good call. 



Thursday we had the first taste of 

 winter. It snowed all day but since 

 then the weather has been fine and 

 just such weather as we are having 

 now we should have for our show next 

 week. Let us hope that we will. 



The heavy receipts of roses still con- 

 tinue, but the market does not im- 

 prove on them, however, owing to the 

 increased crop of chrysanthemums. 

 There are lots of fine blooms of mums 

 4 in the market. The best sellers are 

 Ivory, Mrs. Hill, H. Sunderbruch, 

 Robinson and Major Eonnaffon, the 

 best of these bringing 20 and 25 cents 

 each, and from this down to $1 per 

 dozen. A few southern mums sell at 

 $1 and $2 per 100 and some for ex- 

 press charges. 



Good teas are plentiful. Brides and 

 Maids being quite abundant and slow- 

 sellers, $1 to $3 are the prices for good 

 stock. Meteors are the best sellers 

 just now. Perles. Woottons and 

 Kaiserin also sell fairly well at $3 

 and $4. Beautie, are very scarce and 

 always in good demand, $3 and $4 per 

 dozen is asked for the best. Carna- 

 tions are- quite plentiful but not 

 enough to cause any noticeable glut. 

 There are more whites than any 

 others, $1 to ¥1.50 for common, with 

 fancies at $2. Select stock of this 

 flower is always in demand. Violets 

 have become scarce and are in great 

 demand just now. Small single and 

 Californias are the only ones in. No 

 doubles to be had. Good valley holds 

 its own at $4 and ?5. Our commission 



men, Kuehn and Berning. report good 

 shipping trade with plenty of stock to 

 handle all the orders that come in 

 just now. Chrysanthemum plants at 

 the different stores and at the Union 

 market are in better condition and 

 selling well. The past week we saw 

 some very fine plants that sold from 

 25 cents to $1 each. 



Show Notes. 



As the time for the show approaches 

 chrysanthemums are looking fine and 

 the prospects for our show next week 

 are very flattering. The public seems 

 to take a great interest this year and 

 society is again looking forward to 

 another week of pleasure. The prep- 

 arations for the show are complete 

 and all the committees are hustling. 

 The indications are that this year's 

 show will excel all others. The list 

 of special prizes is usually large 

 and entries are coming in by every 

 mail from all directions and most of 

 them have entries in all classes. The 

 manager will have everything in good 

 shape and the exhibitors can bring 

 their plants to the hall on Monday- 

 morning by 10 a. m. The exhibitor 

 must remember that all rules will be 

 strictly enforced this year, and especi- 

 ally rules 2 and 8. It will be well for 

 every exhibitor to read rules 2 and 8 

 well and be on time. All indications 

 point to a successful show. 



S. S. Skidelsky was in town last 

 week introducing the new carnation 

 Ethel Croker, a fine pink. Mr. S. re- 

 ports sales good. 



The Coliseum was very nicely deco- 

 rated last week during the horse show 

 by the Shuerman Floral Co. 



Bowling. 



The rolling on Monday night by the 

 members of the Florists' Bowling Club 

 was very poor. Only seven members 

 were present. Mr. Will Adles, of the 

 juniors, was a visitor and played the 

 last two games with us. The scores 

 were as follows: 



l. 2. 3. 4. Tot. Av. 



C. A. Kuehn 143 169 170 133 617 154 



c. ('. Sanders ....131 131 166 139 567 142 



J. J. Beneke 1R8 14'. 1F2 120 555 139 



J W. Kunz 175 9S 113 162 5-S 137 



F. J. Fillmore 140 87 132 136 495 124 



F C. Weber 116 114 1?R 133 491 123 



F. H. Weber 121 111 ?S2 116 



Will Adles 135 9S 233 116 



J. J. B. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



The Market. 



The retail stores report no percepti- 

 ble change in business over last week, 

 with the supply equaling the demand. 

 They all report the outlook very prom- 

 ising for a good winter. 



Beauties, $1 to $4 per doz. ; Brides 

 and Maids, $1 to $4: Kaiserins. $2 to 

 $4; Meteors, $1 to $5: Gontiers, $2; 

 Perles, $1 to $3, extra $4; carnations, 

 $1 to $1.50 per 100. Chrysanthemums, 

 fancies, bring $2 per doz.. while ordi- 

 nary ones go at 50 cents to $1 per doz.; 

 valley, $3 to $4; violets, single. 20 to 

 25 cents, doubles 25 to 50 cents; 



