162 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



JANUARY 11, 1900. 



In passing through the houses we 

 noted an immense number of carna- 

 tion cuttings in extra fine condition, 

 and benches of cuttings already in soil 

 were the picture of health and vigor. 

 "You must have the best possible foun- 

 dation to build on" says Mr. Bassett, 

 and we heartily agree with him. 



He does not consider the carnation 

 ajiy more profitable than the rose and 

 the bulk of the glass is still devoted 

 to the Queen of Flowers. House after 

 house of Beauties, Brides, Maids, Me- 

 teors, etc., are a feast for appreciative 

 eyes. 



Harrisii and longiflorum lilies were 

 not so good as usual. One big batch 

 they bought for Harrisii was largely 

 mixed with longiflorum and results 

 were very uneven, and there was more 

 disease than they have had heretofore. 

 A later batch of Harrisii that was all 

 true to name is much better. 



A house of Asparagus plumosus was 

 looking finely and has paid well. A 

 bench of Sprengeri is built in divisions 

 with openings for the sprays to droop 

 in, but the boxes are lengthwise of 

 the bench instead of across. There are 

 three boxes each 15 inches wide and 

 with a space of 9 inches between on 

 a 6-foot bench. 



als in the city were of material assist- 

 ance to the market in this respect of 

 late. Prices have been somewhat 

 easier, but there are indications of a 

 slight stiffening. The supply will no 

 doubt shorten still further if the dark, 

 rainy weather of Tuesday continues. 

 On that day local trade was fair un- 

 til the rain came, but after that the 

 local trade seemed to have crawled 

 into a hole and pulled the hole in after 

 itself. 



Archie Spencer, manager for Peter 

 Reinberg, is showing some extra grade 

 stock with pardonable pride. The Me- 

 teors are of the very highest grade 

 and the Brides and Maids would be 

 hard to match. His Beauties are also 

 showing marked improvement, though 

 the cut is still short. 



E. C. Amling is gradually getting 

 settled in his new place and is pro- 

 viding ample ice-box room for some 

 of those extra specials that bring fancy 

 prices. 



Kennicott Bros. Co. have a letter 

 from Ernst Asmus expressing satis- 

 faction with the returns from their 

 sales of his valley and saying that 

 they average better than the returns 

 he has had in the New York market. 

 Mr. Pieser says there has been a good 



"jJ^ 



Tile Bottomed Bench at Bassett & Washburn's. 



The tile bench shown In the accom- 

 panying engraving is now used 

 throughout the entire establishment 

 and Mr. Bassett would not think of 

 using any other style. Absolutely per- 

 fect drainage is assured, the benches 

 are very lasting, and they cost less 

 than 50 per cent, more than board 

 bottom benches. He finds them not 

 only better but considerably cheaper 

 in the long run. Benches that have 

 been up four years are apparently 

 just exactly as good as the day they 

 were erected. 



CHICAGO. 



The Market. 



Trade continues very satisfactory for 

 the season of the year. There seems 

 less demand than last week in gen- 

 eral, hut the supply is not excessive 

 and there is little surplus except in 

 white at times. Several large funer- 



demand for really first class valley, 

 though second grade stuff has suffered 

 at times. It indicates the importance 

 of grading and sorting, for Mr. As- 

 mus doesn't have all first class spikes 

 any more than any one else, though 

 his average may be higher. The 

 writer took note during a visit to Mr. 

 Asmus' place that a number of em- 

 ployes were busy sorting valley, re- 

 moving imperfect bells, etc., and some 

 of it was several degrees away from 

 gilt edged. But he was wise enough 

 not to let any of it go out as his best. 



Carnation Meeting. 



At the last meeting of the Florists' 

 Club it was decided to hold the an- 

 nual carnation meeting and exhibi- 

 tion on Friday, .Tanuary 19. The large 

 room No. 204 Masonic Temple has 

 been secured for this special occasion 

 and it has been arranged to have the 

 display in position ready for examina- 

 tion during the afternoon as well as 



in the evening, so it may be seen by 

 the suburban growers' who find it dif- 

 ficult to be present at night. The judg- 

 ing will be done by 1 p. m., and the 

 exhibition will then be open for in- 

 spection. 



Efforts will be made to have every 

 one of the newer carnations on exhibi- 

 tion as well as finely grown blooms of 

 the older sorts. The carnation is right 

 in President Hartshorne's line and he 

 is working with much enthusiasm to 

 make this carnation display an eye- 

 opener. A meeting for discussion of 

 the new varieties and of carnation 

 culture will be held in the evening. 



Flowers for display at the exhibi- 

 tion should be addressed to McKel- 

 lar & Winterson. 47 Wabash ave., Chi- 

 cago (marked "for exhibition") and 

 should reach the city the morning of 

 Jan. 19. The exhibits will be judged 

 by a committee, consisting of W. N. 

 Riuld, E. Buettner and A. McAdams. 



In addition to arranging for the 

 above, two new members were elected. 

 Two seedling carnations from the Chi- 

 cago Carnation Co. were on exhibi- 

 tion. No. 16. a fine pink, scored 86 

 points by the American Carnation 

 Society scale. No. 48, a good white, 

 scored 76 points. They are both very 

 promising varieties. 



A committee was appointed to re- 

 vise the by-laws and to submit same 

 to the next meeting for action. 



Hort. Society Meeting. 



At the annual meeting of the Hor- 

 ticultural Society of Chicago, held at 

 the Sherman House last Tuesday after- 

 noon. President W. H. Chadwick and 

 Vice-Presidents E. G. Tihlein, H. G. 

 Selfridge and E. 'Wienhot ber were re- 

 elected. Secretary W. C. t^gan begged 

 so hard to be allowed to retire that 

 he was reluctantly permitted to do 

 so, and Mr. W. N. Rudd was elected 

 both secretary and treasurer. Mr. 

 Egan was retained in the executive 

 committee by election, and P. J. Haus- 

 wirth and Edgar Sanders were re- 

 elected members of the committee. 

 Frank Lowden and John J. Mitchell 

 were added to the board of directors, 

 Messrs. 'Walsh and Schneider retir- 

 ing. 



The report of Treasurer Rudd 

 showed that the expenses of the last 

 exhibition amounted to $8,722.65; that 

 the total receipts fell short of it by 

 $1,043.84, leaving this amount to be 

 covered by dues of members, etc. 

 Nevertheless, the society still has total 

 cash resources of $818.46, and was not 

 obliged to call upon the guarantee 

 fund in connection with the last show. 

 The total box office receipts were 

 $4,637. Premiums donated footed up 

 to $2,491.26. and there was income from 

 other sources. 



Mr. Edgar Sanders reported the re- 

 sult of the efforts of the Florists' Club 

 to insure a greater number of exhib- 

 itors at subsequent exhibitions, and 

 the names of those who had pledged 

 themselves to exliil>it at the next show 

 were received with much satisfaction. 

 A resolution authorizing the exe- 



