June 12, 1902. 



The Weekly Florists' Review, 



67 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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Decoration Day. 



Decoration Day was more generally 

 observed from a floral standpoint this 

 year and we were pleased to see that the 

 deforations of the monnnients in and 

 around New York whilst not what they 

 might have been were at least of a higher 

 degree of good taste than for some years 

 past. There is a wide field for improve- 

 ment in most lines of public decorations, 

 and it is the duty of every florist to en- 

 courage the use of and artistically ar- 

 range flowers and plants on every possi- 

 ble occasion. 



Paeonias. 



In almost all the decorations in honor 

 of the Eoehambeau party, pa'onics, es- 

 pecially Paeonia officicinalis rubra, formed 

 the greater portion of the material used, 

 and very fine they look in large decora- 

 tions. The dinner given for them at 

 Oelmonico 's was remarkable for the flag 

 decorations, that at the Waldorf-Astoria 

 was chiefly of paeonias and was most 

 eflleetive. The centers were huge vases 



Double Crescent Wreath. 



of red pa;onias and a heavy irregular 

 garland of the same flower was arranged 

 around the table. 



Speaking of pseonias they were never 

 more popular than they are this year and 

 we are glad to see their value as a decora- 

 tive flower is being recognized. Many 

 florists have no use for a flower that 

 does not bloom all the year around; that's 

 why they can see nothing of value in 

 anything save the rose or carnation. 

 Only when there is a scarcity of these 

 does the beauty of any other flower ap- 

 peal to their eye and that mainly through 

 their pocket. 



There is a great future for preonias, es- 

 pecially of the delicate colors. We can 

 recommend them for almost any kind of 

 floral work. There is nothing better for 

 large decorations, bo it church or house 

 weddings or table decorations, filling in 

 for funeral work, theatrical or large 

 ])resentation baskets or bunches. The 

 white ones are good for flat funeral 

 bunches, in fact, some of the varieties 

 are beautiful enough in form and color 



to permit their use in every way or for 

 any event. 



June Weddings. 



At tills time of the year when outdoor 

 flowers are abundant, puny or delicate 

 small flowers are bad material to use. 

 People look for impressive eft'ects, and 

 large showy flowers are the best to use, 

 particularly in all large decorations. If 

 you tie a bunch of six or twelve paeonias 

 on the end of every or every other pew 

 down the center aisle of a church it will 

 go a long way towards making your 

 decorations talkable. 



Some still, through grandmother's ad- 

 vice, want white and green decorations, 

 and for these there is an abundance of 

 Lilium Harrisii to be had cheap. Others, 

 of a romantic turn, want wild flowers and 

 for them the fields are full of daisies and 

 clover blossoms, which when mixed look 

 very pretty. Others again want the best 

 and leave it to you to suggest and for 

 these we either use an abundance of car- 

 nations or roses. 



June weddings should be marked by 

 color. June is the month of roses and 

 they should form a principal part in 

 June decorations. Go out to some nur- 

 seryman or grower who has plenty of 

 Crimson Kamblers or other climbing roses, 

 cut them in long branches early in the 

 morning when the dew is on them. You 

 can make the finest of work by arrang- 

 ing them in loose arches or long drooping 

 garlands or sprays. Don't have any stiff 

 eft'ects in June decorations. That may 

 be somewhat excusable when flowers are 

 scarce or expensive, but now you have a 

 plentiful supply of splendid material, 

 even if it be flowering shrubs, grasses, 

 vines or any form of outdoor growth or 

 liloom. A great mistake is often made 

 by florists sending all their best help to 

 decorate the house and all their make- 

 sliifts to the church. The church is often 

 a more important place than the house to 

 consider, because more people go there 

 and consequently your work is more 

 criticised. 



Bay trees, both standard an<l pyramid- 

 al, are excellent groundwork for an ave- 

 nuo of flowering trees. You can use 

 large roses or pa;onias. Just stick them 

 thickly and at irregular heights down 

 through the foliage. They look finely im- 

 posing when well done. 



The finest flower on the market is 

 Cattleya Gigas. You can safely recom- 

 mend it to any one wanting the choicest 

 for funeral, bridesmaid's bouquet, wear- 

 ing flower or general presentation. With 

 a little care people going to Europe may 

 preserve them all the way across. Out- 

 door roses are somewhat behind time this 

 year, which makes them all the more valu- 

 able. Those who can should provide for 

 a crop in July and August. Ivera. 



NEW FLORAL DESIGNS. 



The accompanying engravings show 

 two new designs by Reed & Keller, New 

 York. 



The combination casket cross and vic- 

 tor's wreath should be made up the 

 cross of one color and the wreath of 

 another, to contrast and bring out the 

 best eifect. 



Each side of the double crescent 

 wreath is made of a dift'erent variety 

 of flower and the bottom is tied with 

 a broad bow of ribbon. Iver.\. 



THE RETAIL STORE. 



(Read before the Hartford Plorlsta' Club by J. P. 

 Coombs. Ma.v 13.] 



It is my ojjinion that the present sea- 

 son, which is now about at an end, is one 

 of the most prosperous that the florists 

 in this locality have had. Stock of all 

 kinds has been generally good and better 

 prices have been obtained than usual. 

 We note this more especially in the car- 

 nations. A year or two ago 35 cents a 

 dozen was considered a good price for 

 them, and even last season a number of 

 these flowers were sold at that price, 

 but this season few were sold for less 



Combination Casket Cross and Victor's 

 Wreath. 



than 50 cents a dozen and many were 

 sold for 75 cents and $1.00 and sold 

 more readily than those for 35 cents a 

 dozen a few years ago. To be sure the 

 cost is greater to produce these flowers 

 than those that sell at 35 cents, but 

 there is more money in it, and it goes 

 to show that the average customer is 

 willing to pay a better price for good 

 stock. 



It seems to me that it is the general 

 rule among florists to give too much 

 credit, by letting accounts run too long 



