578 



The Weekly Florists' Review, 



MARCH 3, 1S9S. 



CHICAGO. 



Club Meeting. 



At the last meeting of tlio Florist 

 Club the carnation convention com- 

 mittee made the very gratifying report 

 that after paying all bills they would 

 have a surplus, and that the con- 

 trilnitors to the fund would receive 

 liack aliout 25 per cent of their con- 

 tiibutions. The committee was ac- 

 corded a warm vote of thanks for the 

 able manner in which its work had 

 l)een conducted. Two new members 

 were added to the roll. 



Mr. J. T. Anthony read a paper on 

 marketing cut flowers, in which he 

 emphasized the importance of grading 

 ill! flowers sent to market, and point- 

 ing out wherein this was to the direct 

 advantage of the grower. He indorsed 

 the views expressed in Mr. Kennicott's 

 essay as regards bunching carnations. 



In the discussion that followed Mr. 

 Slollery held that it would not be long 

 before carnation flowers would not be 

 bunched for market, but would be 

 shipped in layers, as in the case of 

 fine roses. 



The next meeting of the club, March 

 II), will be "Rose and Violet Night." 

 'I'he essayists have not yet been se- 

 lected, but these two important sub- 

 jects will undoubtedly be thoroughly 

 discussed. 



The Market. 



There is a much better supply in the 

 market, and though the deinand is 

 keeping up very well in view of the 

 beginning of Lent, prices have dropped. 

 In roses the teas range from $4 to ?7, 

 and only a few of the very extra grade 

 bring as high as $S. In carnations, or- 

 dinary flowers range from $1.25 to $2, 

 while extra grade sell up to as high 

 as $6. Some fine Daybreaks bring $4, 

 while the highest grade of Mrs. Bradt 

 go as high as ?S. But the great bulk 

 of the stock goes at the lower figures. 

 Whites of good quality rarely go be- 

 low $2, and white seems none too 

 plenty. In bulbous stock there is an 

 immense supply, and of some sorts 

 there is a decided glut, especially in 

 tulips of ordinary grade. 



Bassett & Washburn are cutting 

 from 200 to 600 Harrisii per day, and 

 find sale for all. They report good 

 demand for Harrisii all through this 

 season, the price having never dropped 

 below $S per 100. They are already re- 

 ceiving inquiries for Easter. They are 

 also cutting large quantities of valley 

 of extra quality. Price is now $3 a 

 hundred. 



Kennicott Bros. Co. report a big in- 

 crease in supply and a surplus in many 

 lines, especially in bulbous stock. 



E. H, Hunt notes a swelling of the 

 supply beyond that of the demand. 

 His weekly report will be found else- 

 where in this issue. 



W. E, Lynch is receiving more stock, 

 but demand is fair at the reduced 

 prices. 



Winter & Glover report about the 

 same, and with confidence that trade 

 during the Lenten season will this 

 year show the usual annual increase. 



Vaughan, McKellar & Winterson 

 find the supply decidedly ample, but 

 report sales good with the lower prices 

 to move the stock. 



E. C. Amling, Rogers Park Floral 

 Co. and A, L. Randall make about the 

 same report. The general feeling is 

 that business during Lent will be bet- 

 ter than the same season last year, the 

 shipping orders holding up very well 

 so far. 



The slump in prices the latter part 

 of last week well illustrates the sud- 

 den variations to which the cut fiower 

 market is subject, and fully warrants 

 the legend, "subject to change with- 

 out notice," that appears on the price- 

 lists of the wholesalers. 



Death of A. H. Saxon. 



We much regret to have to record 

 the death of Alfred H. Saxon at his 

 home in Downer's Grove, Feb. 25, of 

 consumption. Mr. Saxon has been in 

 poor health for several years, and 

 made a heroic attempt to carry on his 

 business in the face of many difficul- 

 ties. He was laid at rest last Sun- 

 day, the funeral being in charge of the 

 Order of Woodmen, of whicli he was 

 a member. He leaves a widow and sev- 

 eral small children. It is probable that 

 Mrs. Saxon will not attempt to con- 

 tinue the business, and we are request- 

 ed by a friend to ask florists looking 

 for a business opening to consider this 

 establishment. The greenhouses and 

 contents are in excellent order. 



Various Items. 



Bassett & Washburn are growing 

 this year 40,000 bulbs of Lilium Har- 

 risii, from which they will cut over 

 100,000 flowers. 



Henry Fritz, formerly gardener for 

 H. N. Higinbotham, at Joliet, was 

 killed in a cable car accident in this 

 city on Feb. 23, and was buried by the 

 Knights of Pythias, of which he was 

 a member, 



Henry and George Klehm have been 

 visiting St. Louis for the last few 

 weeks. 



Last Saturday there was on view at 

 Kennicott Bros. Co.'s establishment a 

 vase of carnations from Mr. F. Dorner, 

 Lafayette, Ind., and among them were 

 several blooms, half red and half 

 striped on white, lal)eled "Kennicott's 

 Mongrel," evidently in allusion to that 

 gentlemen's use of the term "mon- 

 grel" in his essay at the carnation con- 

 vention. It was a large, handsome 

 flower, evidently a sport from Mrs. 

 Bradt, and Mr. Kennicott said that he 

 would undertake to find sale for these 

 parti-colored blooms quicker than for 

 the striped form. He said he would 

 "father the mongrel." The vase also 

 included five blooms of White Cloud 

 and Gold Nugget, and it was notice- 

 able that the last named was in 

 as good form the following Monday 

 afternoon as when first received, show- 

 it to be a fine keeper. 



Mr. G. H. Peiser, of Kennicott's, has 

 returned from his southern trip. 



Echoes of the banquet to the Car- 

 nation Society are still heard. "It was 

 a great event," is the general verdict. 



Mr. J. A. Evans, of Challenge 'Venti- 

 lator, Ind., remained after the con- 

 vention and called on his friends in 

 the trade. 



Mr. C. W. Ward, of Queens, N, Y., 

 also made quite a stay. He visited 

 Hinsdale, and was much impressed 

 with the immense establishment of 

 Bassett & Washburn. 



A. Lange, successor to Harms & 

 Lange, has removed to 163 State street, 

 where he has an excellent location. 



It is rumored that plans are being 

 made for a new greenhouse plant of 

 tremendous proportions, of which 

 Charles A, Neuner, formerly of Louis- 

 ville, Ky., will be manager. Accord- 

 ing to the report, the range will con- 

 tain sixty large houses. A local cap- 

 italist is said to be back of the enter- 

 prise. 



At the next meeting of the Florist 

 Club Mr. Fred Hills will read a paper 

 on "How to Grow Tea Roses for 

 Profit." 



BUFFALO. 



Trade Fine. 

 About the best way to get a correct 

 version of the state of trade is to in- 

 quire of our wholesale men, "How is 

 business?" They are in touch with 

 the general pulse of the retail busi- 

 ness better than any individual, and 

 Mr. Pickleman says that the demand is 

 good. Mr. Kasting replies to our 

 query that trade is fine, with a good 

 demand for all good flowers, and ship- 

 ping trade never better. Lent arrives 

 without any comment. Large parties 

 are certainly non-existent, but the 

 general trade is little affected by this 

 pious period. 



A Bargain Day. 



There was a little tilt down the 

 street a few days ago between two 

 well known and enterprising florists. 

 It was the occasion of both making 

 a "bargain day on daffies." They kept 

 reducing the price, but kept up the 

 quality of flowers, which with both 

 was most excellent, till they both fell 

 exhausted into the arms of their sten- 

 ographers, and the public had received 

 "daffies" at about the cost of the 

 bulbs. There never was at this sea- 

 son a finer lot of flowers and 

 plants offered for sale; everything in 

 abundance and of finest quality. 

 When you have a lot of stock and 

 don't have to skirmish round to fill 

 orders, you are apt to think business 

 is not what it should be. The fact is, 

 business is quite fair, with supply in 

 abundance. 



The building of the extensive range 

 of houses at the Botanic Gardens is 

 still in abeyance, the contract not yet 

 being finally let. This is a pity, as we 

 had hoped to see this grand range 

 completed the coming summer. Thank 

 goodness, the sinews of building are 

 all ready when the contract is let. 



Mr. McMillan Leaves for New Jersey. 



Mr. William McMillan, our widely 

 known and much respected late park 



