MARCH 15, 1900. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



447 



the retail business of a modern city. 

 This is J. H. SiiUlons, whose experi- 

 ence iis a gardener began, as he tells 

 us, wlien he was a boy of eight years, 

 and with iiis father's family was daily 

 engaged in growing out-ot-door stuff. 

 Back as far as ISUti he commenced to 

 sell flowers in the markets and on the 

 streets, and his business has steadil.v 

 enlarged ever since, until now he keeps 

 two stores, one on Myrtle avenue and 

 the other at the corner of Pennsylva- 

 nia avenue and George street, both of 

 which are doing a good business. 



Mr. Siddons does not own any glass, 

 but he is amongst the heavy purchas- 

 ers at the Florists' E.xchange. The 

 convenience of this medium of ex- 

 change between growers and retailers 

 is much commended by him as he re- 

 calls his daily journeys years ago 

 through the country, north, south, 

 east, and west, to secure his necessary 

 supplies. At that time, when it was 

 the vogue, he kept from ten to twelve 

 boys constantly on the streets selling 

 buttonholeTjouquets and small bunches 

 of flowers. In this way he used thou- 

 sands and thousands of pansies. vio- 

 lets, stocks, and other flowers every 

 week. This trade has absolutely 

 faded away, and many growers feel the 

 loss of the output of this class of 

 flowers. 



Mr. Siddons has the call on the ever- 

 green and wreathing trade In this vi- 

 cinity and when large decorations are 

 in the market his aid is always in- 

 ■voked. At both his establishments he 

 does an active traffic in designs for 

 weddings, funerals and festive occa- 

 sions, and in cut flowers; nor must it 

 be supposed that his dealings are re- 

 stricted to people of his own race, for 

 quite two-thirds of his business is with 

 white people. 



Mr. Siddons stands well In this com- 

 munity, is esteemed as honorable and 

 honest in his dealings, and respected 

 accordingly. He served in the army 

 during the civil war, and for several 

 years has been on the department staff 

 of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

 As an example of the thrift and suc- 

 cess of one of his race, we think he de- 

 serves this mention to the trade. 



Various Notes. 



Mr. Philip B. "Welsh, one of our 

 young and enterprising florists, has 

 been unfortunately on the retired list 

 for several weeks from the effects of 

 a severe surgical operation, but he is 

 now on the road to convalescence, to 

 the gratification of his many friends. 



The white Maman Cochet rose will 

 be largely planted here this season. 

 One firm will set out three thousand 

 plants for blooms for its store trade. 

 Other growers have large quantities 

 which will be in full flower, notably 

 Messrs. Moss, Bauer and Rider. This 

 fine rose, which is full, long stemmed 

 and handsome in contour, with a beau- 

 tiful blush in early autumn, has come 

 to stay for out-door white flowers in 

 summer. 



The Golden Gate rose is growing 

 rapidly in jxjpular estimation in this 

 locality. As the season advances, 

 it is throwing s1)lendid blooms on long, 

 stiff stems, and the delicious fragrance 

 of the (lower and its lively tints com- 

 bine to give it a place amongst the 

 standard varieties. It is selling now at 

 about the same figure as Bridesmaids 

 and la a welcome variety for the long, 

 unbroken monotony of Brides and 

 Maids. Mrs. Charles Held, whose trade 

 is proverbial for demanding fine stuff, 

 is using great quantities of this rose 

 and with great .satisfaction. 



It is said that one of our decorators, 

 who recently lost heavily on plants 

 used to adorn a church, by reason of 

 frost penetrating the edifice, has di- 

 rected suit to be brought against the 

 trustees for f 100, the sum he alleges he 

 lost by reason of injury of his palms 

 and other foliage plants. We hear of 

 another florist who gave the carter 

 handling his plants too much latitude 

 as to bringing them back home from a 

 decoration, and by that worthy's error 

 of judgment is suffering a loss esti- 

 mated at about the same sum. Both 

 instances point to the importance of 

 personal attention to such vital mat- 

 ters. 



The usually accurate compositors on 

 the Review failed to correctly de- 

 cipher' the hieroglyphics of your cor- 

 respondent's last letter, and the bright 

 .and energetic foreman of the Halliday 

 Bros., for whom their new carnation 

 is named, was transformed from Mack 

 Richmond into Mack Raymond, and 

 John L. Hogarth, who is up-to-date 

 and very much alive, was said to have 

 been formerly known to the trade, 

 when it was written that he was favor- 

 ably known to it — he coming from a 

 family whose members have been gar- 

 deners for several generations. 



The market for cut flowers for the 

 week ending today (March 12th) was 

 fairly active. There was some sagging 

 the first two or three days and prices 

 gave way, but later roses were in good 

 demand and figures recovered, whilst 

 carnations were not enough in evi- 

 dence to meet all demands. In fact, 

 one grower remarked in our hearing 

 that at his place the buyers were sit- 

 ting around on the hot water pipes 

 waiting for the fiowers to open out. 

 This season, as in every season, the 

 old truth is taught again and again, 

 which so many know and so few fol- 

 low, that good stuff is always in de- 

 mand, whilst it does not pay to fall 

 into the ranks of the great army of 

 mediocre qualities! 



The Gardeners' Club at its annual 

 meeting tonight elected the following 

 oflicers for the ensuing year: Presi- 

 dent, Robert Halliday; vice-president, 

 N. P. Flitton; secretary, John J. Per- 

 ry; financial secretary, Harry Ekas; 

 treasurer, Fred Berger; librarian, 

 John "Wagner. After the meeting the 

 usual banquet was enjoyed, toasts 

 were proposed and speeches made, Ed- 

 win A. Seidewitz acting as toastmas- 

 ter. RIX. 



SAN FRANCISCO. 



The Market. 



The piust week has been a wet one. 

 The rains are with us once more and 

 business remains quiet. All kinds of 

 stock is coming in more plentiful and 

 prices are commencing to drop some- 

 what. 



A slight Improvement can be no- 

 ticed in the quality of American Beau- 

 ties coming in and it is to be hoped 

 they will keep it up right along. Calla 

 lilies are now in full bloom and large 

 quantities could be cut if a use could 

 be found for them. However, they 

 will be in demand at Easter, when 

 other blooms are not so plentiful. 



Our farmers and fruit growers all 

 over the state feel happy over the re- 

 cent rains, as in some counties the 

 moisture came just in the nick of 

 time. All kinds of fruit trees are in 

 bloom and if the frosts hold off the 

 indications point to a heavy crop of 

 fruits all over the state. 



Prices: American Beauties, $1 to $4; 

 Brides and Bridesmaids, 50 to '75 cents; 

 Testouts, 75 cents; Perles, 50 cents; 

 Siebrechts. 50 to '75 cents per dozen. 

 Carnations, Hobarts, $1; Crockers, 75 

 cents; Schwerins, 50 cents; fancy 

 mixed, 35 cents; Scotts, 20 cents; Por- 

 tias, 15 to 20 cents per dozen. Har- 

 risii, $2 to $3.50 per doz; daffodils, 75 

 cents to fl per 100. Violets, Princess 

 of "Wales, 50 to 75 cents; Calif ornias, 

 40 cents; double violets, 50 cents per 

 dozen bunches; lily of the valley, 35 to 

 50 cents per dozen; smilax, 5 cents per 

 string; asparagus, 10 cents per string. 



Various Notes. 



Mr. Frank Peterson, Mr. Lacazette's 

 able partner, is making quite a repu- 

 tation as a maker of Uoral pieces and 

 some work done by him lately would 

 be hard to beat. Symuacopulus called 

 for his services this week on some fun- 

 eral work that gave satisfaction. If 

 Mr. Peterson keeps on at this rate he 

 will soon be champion of the world 

 "and other places." 



A. Danhem, Powell street, San Fran- 

 cisco, has given up his florist business 

 and will try some other means of mak- 

 ing a living. 



The California State Floral Society 

 held a meeting on March 9th at Oc- 

 cidental Hotel parlors. A few season- 

 able exhibits were niftde by the mem- 

 bers. Mrs. H. P. Tricon is secretary, 

 and E. E. Smith, president. J. N. 



CLEVELAND. 



On a recent flying trip around town 

 we called upon A. Graham & Sons. 

 Found everything in its accustomed 

 good order. Lilies coming in about 

 right for Easter, while a good batch 

 was in bloom. Mr. Graham calculates 

 that about one-fourth will be lost 

 through the disease. All other Easter 

 stock was coming along nicely. Carna- 

 tions were looking well, and were 

 blooming freely. 



Our next stop was in Painesville, 

 where we visited the Storrs & Harri- 

 son Co. Business thrift and order 



