The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



605 



View in J. A, Budloog's 



more merit to it than the ultra expen- 

 sive. 



There are two principal ways to look 

 at things. In the first-clasd florist's 

 store you must have cheap trimming 

 material and the very best. Take the 

 case of ribbons. It doesn't pay to put 

 •50 cents' worth of ribbon on a dollar 

 bunch of flowers, and yet you are often 

 asked to put ribbon on small orders. 

 The mere man and the average woman 

 dou't know the value of ribbon; they 

 judge it by its effect, consequently the 

 cheapest grade of ribbon, providing it is 

 of good color, is good enough for the 

 laigest part of the work turned out. 

 But there is another section where the 

 very finest is none too good and where 

 you don't lose by its use. 



Taffeta ribbons will more than ever 

 be the most popular again this season. 

 Satin finished grades will be used for 

 fine work, but broad velvet ribbons are 

 to be used on the highest class work. If 

 }-ou care to attract the eye of any par- 

 ticular lady customer, try the best vel- 

 vet ribbon you can get on some bunch 

 of choice flowers: use some soft green, 



something to bring out color, so badly 

 needed in many cases. 



Last Christmas good big prices were 

 got for holly sold this way. Arrange 

 the holly in nice loose, flat bunches, 

 leaves facing upwards; have good clus- 

 ter of berries and a sprig of mistletoe 

 in front; get a dark green mat, shirr it 

 well and tie to the holly with a bow of 

 red ribbon. These were bought to send 

 as presents, and in some cases brought 

 as high as $5 a bunch. 



It isn't a question of the cost of ma- 

 terial ; it is a matter of how you arrange 

 and present it. That's where the value 

 lies, and every florist should be contin- 

 ually on the lookout for anything that 

 will assist him in this line. When we 

 say high colors are to be fashionable in 

 decorations this winter, we don't mean 

 that that should be confined to trim- 

 mings alone, Combinations in colors will 

 be necessary, and, as usual, will be ac- 

 cording to individual ideas, but har- 

 mony alone will command respect. You 

 must not value a thing for the price 

 asked for it. Many a cheap thing has 



View in Poehlmann Bros. Co.'s. 



The Chicago Market. View in Frank Garland's 



such as light green fronds of Adiantum 

 Farleyense. 



Tlie general condition of business is 

 unsatisfactory at present, but it is no 

 worse, if anything rather a shade bet- 

 ter, than other years. There is always 

 considerable doubt and uneasiness at this 

 time of the year, but it generally fades 

 away with the coming of the severe 

 weather, when country mansions are 

 closed and city palaces are open. There 

 will be good business this winter and 

 (hey who act honestly and keep up with 

 the times will have little cause to grum- 

 ble at the end of the season. Ivera. 



THE CHICAGO MARKET. 



This week we take our readers on a 

 trip through the Chicago market by 

 means of a series of pictures of the 

 various establishments. The growth of 

 the wholesale cut flower trade in Chica- 

 go during the past si.xtcen years has 

 been truly remarkable. From one or 

 two houses in 1885 the number has 

 grown to eighteen or mor^, each one 

 probably handling more flowers than 



