CONSTRUCTION- OF BOUQUETS, ETC. 229 



ing friends could find no better way to express their 

 feelings of veneration than by sending to those they have 

 loved and respected a few flowers as a last tribute of 

 remembrance. P. H.] 



It has ever been a matter of wonder to the workers in 

 flowers how such a preponderance of white is required. 

 Most of them have not realized (although often practis- 

 ing it) that the most beautiful colored bouquets have 

 always a large proportion of white in their composi- 

 tion. When we consider that white flowers are used, in 

 quantity at least, equally with flowers of all colors collec- 

 tively, and add to this the large amount of white flowers 

 used alone for funerals, weddings, church offerings, etc., 

 we may more readily conceive how important the raising of 

 white flowers is to all flower growers. We believe it is 

 safe to affirm that no one in the flower business fairly dis- 

 covered this necessity, until the vastly increasing demand 

 for flowers in late years forced it upon his attention, 

 and compelled him to the production of white flowers as 

 the most important part of his business. [White flowers 

 are no longer exclusively used in funeral pieces ; sub- 

 dued colored flowers, mixed with white, are now as often 

 used as those entirely white. P. H.] 



Bouquet making is no longer a paltry business ; the 

 trade in flowers, in New York at least, has fairly out- 

 grown that of flowering plants, and when so much of 

 this work is required, and when that which is well 

 done is so much more valuable, it becomes worthy of 

 more study and attention. 



Many people have little idea of the value set upon 

 flowers by some of their fellow mortals. In New York, 

 during winter, twenty-five cents is a common price for a 

 handsome rose-bud [Many of the finest buds, such aa 

 American Beauty, Paul Neron, Magna Charta, and 

 Baroness Rothschild are retailed at one dollar each from 

 December 1st to February 1st ; only a few years ago they 



