MARCH ;il. I.SSS. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



741 



City Hall Flower Market, 15 Province Street, 9 Chapman Place, Welch Bros., Proprietors, Boston, Mass. 

 The largest market for sale of flowers in New England. 



been an error that could not be quickly 

 traced and as quickly corrected. Accu- 

 racy in this work is vital and this sys- 

 tem seems to meet all requirements. 

 Something over a hundred growers, 

 some of them the largest in New Eng- 

 land, consign to this firm, and it is 

 marvelous how the immense stocks 

 find a market in so short a time. 



Their commencement was made on 

 Tremont street, near the Tremont the- 

 ater, where they remained until the 

 premises were too small for them to 

 handle their largely Increasing busi- 

 ness, and about eight years ago they 

 removed to more commodious prem- 

 ises, but as the business was rapidly 

 increasing they again had to look for a 

 larger store, and took the one they now 

 occupy, where they have ample room. 

 The refrigerator, which runs the entire 

 length of the store from Chapman 

 place to Province street, is a superb 

 structure and a work of art, which was 

 arranged and built under the personal 

 supervision of Mr. P. Welch, the senior 

 member of the firm. It takes ten to 

 twelve tons of ice to fill it, and is said 

 to be the largest ice box among the 

 florists of the east. The Welch Bros, 

 still report a largely increasing busi- 

 ness, and there are times when, with 

 all their immense and increasing con- 



signments of flowers, their stock to 

 supply their orders is short. 



The brothers have merited their suc- 

 cess by strict attention to business and 

 rigid integrity, and these qualities can 

 not fail to assure continued success. 

 Mr. P. Welch, the senior partner, at- 

 tends to general details, Mr. Ed. Welch 

 has charge of the shipping department 

 and Mr. David Welch looks after the 

 finances, and the three brothers are al- 

 ways at their posts. C. H. J. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



Trade Review. 



Plant business was decidedly lively 

 last week and promises well for Eas- 

 ter. It will be a bad year for many 

 growers of lilies, but for everything 

 else prospects are bright. Large palms 

 and ferns are in demand, many grow- 

 ers having received orders from the 

 firms who do a large shipping busi- 

 ness. One sale alone filled four large 

 vans, chiefly with arecas. 



The cut flower market is quiet, nev- 

 ertheless a good deal of stock is sold 

 at moderate prices. Brides have been 

 in brisk demand. It seems a pity this 

 rose does not sell a little better in 



mid-winter. When prices are high 

 and flowers scarce the Bride is gen- 

 erally the hardest to sell. 



A great many visitors have been in 

 town during the past fortnight and an 

 encouraging amount of stock has been 

 ordered for shipment. It is said one 

 grower could have sold all his flower- 

 ing plants of certain varieties, but pre- 

 ferred to keep part for his regular cus- 

 tomers. 



I met my friend, Mrs. Harris, in Jo- 

 seph Kift & Son's store last week. Now 

 I am always especially glad to see Mrs. 

 Harris, because she is not only bright 

 and charming, but is exceptionally 

 well posted floriculturally and her 

 ideas are always interesting. After a 

 few words about the lovely flowers, 

 Mrs. Harris asked me if I would wait 

 just an instant and walk down the 

 street with her. I am not generally 

 enthusiastic about walking with ladies 

 in business hours, but Mrs. Harris is 

 a special favorite, moreover she 

 doesn't often ask me. After waiting 

 the five minutes I was rewarded for 

 my patience by being allowed to carry 

 the box of flowers. No sooner had we 

 gained Chestnut street than Mrs. Har- 

 ris turned to me with rising color and 

 asked me if I had read "that dreadful 

 Philadelphia article in The Review?" 



