546 



The Weekly Florists* Review. 



FEBRUARY 24. 1.S98. 



A vote of thanks was passed by the 

 club for complimeutary courtesies re- 

 ceived from The Florists' Review. 



At our next regular meeting Mr. W. 

 P. Craig, of Philadelphia, has been re- 

 quested to give us his observations 

 while attending the Carnation Soci- 

 ety's conventions. 



A banquet to be held election night, 

 the first meeting in March, is now in 

 the hands of a committee. 



The first installment of "Dutch Bul- 

 lub" growers has landed. C. F. F. 



CLEVELAND. 



A Lively Trade St. Valentine's Day. 



"Hooray for St. Valentine. Like- 

 wise hurroo and hurrah!" These and 

 other expressions of approbation vculd 

 probably indicate the florists' feeling 

 toward the gentle saint. If he were 

 with us now the florists' vote would 

 probably help him in a campaign for 

 the presidency of this great and grow- 

 ing republic, and. seated in the presi- 

 dential chair, he might in turn help 

 a little in some legislation for the 

 benefit of floriculture in general. Who 

 knows but what that national charter 

 might be forthcoming shortly. 



The foregoing is not insanity, but is 

 merely u means of conveying the in- 

 formation that one of the days that 

 has heretofore never called forth the 

 general use of flowers in any such de- 

 gree as the occasion would seem to jus- 

 tify, is beginning to improve in that 

 point. Perhaps it may eventually be- 

 come as important to the florist as 

 Easter or Christmas. A day like that, 

 approximately half way between the 

 two above mentioned holidays, at a 

 time of year when floweis can be had 

 in good quantity and variety, at 

 fair prices all around, would add 

 immensely to the average fioricul- 

 tural exchequer and help quite a lit- 

 tle to rid us of the surplus incubus. 

 As it is. florists all report very good 

 business on the 14th — much better than 

 the same date in preceding years. In 

 some instances it came pretty near be- 

 ing a case of "sold out," which con- 

 dition is most unusual at this time of 

 year. The demand ran largely for 

 choice flowers — not in large orders, but 

 dainty effects were preferred. 



Stock. 



Aside from this little extra flurry, 

 business has been on the whole satis- 

 factory. There has been a good, steady 

 demand. Funeral work in many in- 

 stances has helped considerably in 

 using up stock, so that there has been 

 little reason to complain of waste 

 where stock has been of reasonably 

 good quality. Flowers have been of 

 good quality as a rule, although carna- 

 tions show a good deal of variation, 

 some being excellent in grade, though 

 with a percentage of lower grade 

 stuff. Roses are very good, and. like 

 other flowers, are be'ng offered some- 

 what more freely than at previous 

 writings. The price continues on all 



stuff very near to rates given at earlier 

 writings. Whether these prices can 

 stand the pressure of Lent remains to 

 be seen. 



The Chicago Meeting. 



The five pilgrims to Chicago re- 

 turned in good order, sound in wind 

 and limb, and with glowing reports 

 of Chicago and all thereunto apper- 

 taining. The exhibition was wonder- 

 ful and the entertainment ro>al. 

 The Philadelphia gentlemen will have 

 their work cut out to furnish a better 

 managed and more satisfactory "ex- 

 perience meeting" than that of Chi- 

 cago '98. 



The Cleveland delegation stopped 

 off on their return trip to see Messrs. 

 Dorner & Sons' place at Lafayette, 

 where they found everything in the 

 condition that has made the Dorner 

 establishment proverbial. The carna- 

 tions, and, indeed, everything, formed 

 a wonderful sight to those accus- 

 tomed to seeing carnations as ordi- 

 narily grown, and will be. with the re- 

 membrance of the cordial hospitality 

 shown, a pleasant memory for all who 

 had the good fortune to be there. 



The weather continues about as 

 usual so far this winter— mild, but 

 rather lacking in the matter of sun. 



NEMO. 



ST. LOUIS. 



Popularity of the Divine Flower. 



The week just closed was a busy 

 one among the florists, and the grow- 

 ars are getting top prices for all their 

 products. Roses of all kinds are hold- 

 ing up well and bringing good returns. 

 The carnation growers are in h'gh 

 glee, as this flower has been in great 

 demand since the flrst of the year. It 

 was never known in the history of 

 the commission men when carnations 

 sold so well and brought such high 

 prices at this time of the year. The 

 commission men report an increased 

 shipping demand, and orders of this 

 kind were unusually heavy. 



There have been a few large wed- 

 dings and receptions, and the west 

 end florists report that they were kept 

 busy with dinner and luncheon decora- 

 tions. The transient trade has also 

 been good with the down town florists. 

 This state of affairs had a good deal 

 lo do with so few florists attending 

 the carnation meeting at Chicago last 

 week. Next week we will probably 

 have a different story to tell about 

 business, as Lent commences this 

 week Wednesday. 



Prices. 

 Roses in most all classes are scarce. 

 Those coming in are of improved qual- 

 ity, and there is no apparent quantity 

 of any one variety. Beauties were as 

 usual scarce, with a brisk demand for 

 long stemmed stock, which was not ob- 

 tainable at any price. A few short 

 ones were selling at from 10 to 25 cents 

 each. Bridesmaids find a ready sale 

 at $S and $10; Brides also in great de- 



mand at same price; Meteors, very- 

 scarce, at ?10 for the best, some short 

 ones bringing $5 and ?6; Woottons and 

 Perles in fair supply, and bring $5 and 

 $G; some smaller ones were sold at $4. 



Carnations have the call at present, 

 and all fancy varieties bring $5 per 

 hundred. Daybreaks, Scott, Wocher. 

 and all whites sold at $3 and $4. The 

 very poorest carnations brought as. 

 high as $3 per hundred. 



Bulbous stuff of almost every variety 

 has sold well. Daffodils (Von Sion) 

 are selling at $1; Dutch hyacinths, all 

 the light shades, in good demand at 

 $6; valley. $4; Romans, $3. The tulips 

 have slackened up a little, and sell at 

 $4 for the very best. Harrisii are not 

 quite so plentiful as they have been,, 

 and bring $12.50; callas. $10. 



Violets, which have been a glut 

 for the past few weeks, are selling 

 better, and Californias are again sell- 

 ing at 50 and 75 cents: double, same 

 price; small single, home grown, 20 

 cents; southern, 10 cents. There is 

 some very fine mignonette sent to the 

 market, grown by Andrew Meyer, all 

 of the giant varieties. The fine spikes 

 of these flowers are in good demand at 

 from $3 to $4. Asparagus is in fair de- 

 mand. Smilax is selling better at $10. 

 and adiantum sells at $1 to $1.25. 



Carnation Meeting of Florist Club. 



The next meeting of the Florists" 

 Club will be a notable one, from the 

 fact that it will be the annual carna- 

 tion meeting, and all the new varieties 

 that are being grown are expected to 

 be on exhibition, from all the eastern 

 and home growers. This attraction 

 should draw a gathering worthy of the 

 occasion, and as all florists in town 

 and vicinity are invited, we expect the 

 largest meeting in the history of the' 

 club. The date of the next meeting, 

 is Thursday. March 10. at 2 p. m., in 

 Hall No. 2, Odd Fellows' Building. 

 Outsiders should not wait for an in- 

 vitation, but just come and show them- 

 selves, and we will make it pleasant 

 for them. 



Various Notes. 



George Osteitag has given up his 

 Broadway store, and will hereafter be 

 found at 506 North Grard avenue, at 

 which place his sister Mary is doing 

 business. 



Mr. Ed. Buechel, secretary of the 

 Riessen Florist Co., on South Broad- 

 way, reports business very good, with 

 lots of decorations on hand. 



Max Herzog is sending in some very 

 fine Woottons. Brides and Maids, 

 which sell at sight. 



Mr. C. C. Sanders has been requested' 

 to read a paper on "Nursery Stock 

 from a Retailer's Standpoint" at the 

 next meeting of the club. 



Mr. Emil Schray, chairman of the- 

 committee on premiums and awards, 

 has appointed his committee, as fol- 

 lows: Messrs. Andrew Meyer, Sr., Al- 

 bert E. Michel and Henry Ostertag. 

 They have been at work on the prelim- 



