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The Florists^ Review 



Dbcbmber 5, 1918. 



Most of the Paper Whites had been or- 

 dered through Holland growers, and, of 

 course no one expected that they wouli 

 be able to make delivery. So as soon 

 as any Paper Whites reached this coun- 

 try, our growers ordered from every- 

 body who seemed able to make delivery. 

 All came and so we are well supplied. 

 But if present demands keep up, no one 

 will be a loser. 



Miss Carrie Chance, who has been 

 running the Joy store in Chattanooga 

 for some time, is at home again. Mr. 

 Harrison and his sister, Miss Bess Har- 

 rison, took charge of the store when it 

 was opened, but Mr. Harrison became 

 a soldier and Miss Bess married one, so 

 Miss Chance had to take charge. 



Oscar Geny has been in pooj health 

 much of the summer, but is able to look 

 after the greenhouses again now. In 

 fact, he is stronger now than for a long 

 time. 



The weather is perfect here this fall 

 and we still have little frost. Of 

 course everything outdoors has been 

 cut down, but the weather man is as- 

 sisting in the conservation of coal to a 

 remarkable degree. Farmers are still 

 sowing small grain and the pastures are 

 as green as in the spring. F. B. 



NEW YORK. 



The Market. 



As was expected, Thanksgiving busi- 

 ness was good, the market cleaning up 

 quickly in spite of heavy arrivals of 

 stock. While there was quite sufficient 

 stock to go around, the buying was 

 spirited and of a kind not witnessed of 

 late. Practically everything sold well 

 and much more stock would have been 

 taken had it been available. As early 

 as November 26 active buying set in 

 and top-notch prices were reached and 

 maintained until the morning of 

 Thanksgiving day, when arrivals of 

 flowers naturally were light. Chrys- 

 anthemums, of course, formed the bulk 

 of the supply and were generally of 

 good quality; but the tell-tale pink 

 flushes on many of the Bonnaffons and 

 some of the white varieties betokened 

 hoarding to an extent, a condition which 

 this year perhaps was excusable, as 

 many of the late varieties had passed 

 and the larger flowers were in especial 

 demand. There was a wealth of pom- 

 pons and singles, but good prices were 

 obtainable and stock of all colors soon 

 disappeared. 



American Beauty roses appeared to 

 stick around the 75-cent mark for 

 specials of ordinary grade, but all other 

 varieties moved at prices considerably 

 in advance of those quoted on the first 

 day of the week. Violets advanced 

 to $1 and some specials of fine quality 

 at $1.50, and they cleaned out well at 

 these prices. Carnations were in good 

 demand, the best bringing 10 cents, 

 chiefly for Mrs. C. W. Ward, but 8 cents 

 was the average top price for good 

 flowers. Some heavy shipments of 

 cypripediums came in and the stock 

 moved well for a time at $1.50 to $2 

 per dozen. The best cattleyas brought 

 $1 each, but the supply was limited. 

 Lilies moved well at 8 cents to 10 cents 

 each. Quantities of Lilium auratum 

 were in evidence and brought an average 

 of $2 per dozen. Callas were in plenty, 

 but seemed to drag. Stevia, smilax and 

 asparagus sold well. 



This week will see the chrysanthemum 



crop at its end and then we shall bfe 

 able to make progpostications regard- 

 ing the Christmas 'supply of "^ flowers. 

 While many expect that it will be light, 

 owing to the cut in production due to 

 fuel restrictions, it must be remembered 

 that bench plantings of carnations and 

 roses were completed much later this 

 year than usual and the heavy cropping 

 varieties of the former have not yet as- 

 serted themselves, but undoubtedly will 

 figure conspicuously in the Christmas 

 trade. A good supply of rbses also is 

 to be expected. 



With the Thanksgiving business out 

 of the way, the market remains strong, 

 with arrivals light; consequently there 

 is no difficulty experienced in cleaning 

 up. The supply of chrysanthemums is 

 lighter and among the offerings are the 

 late varieties, such as Jeanne Nonin and 

 Seidewitz. 



Carnations are improving in quality, 

 but the supply still is not great. Some 

 short-stemmed stock is shipped in, re- 

 minding one more of October pickings 

 than a December cut. The best are 

 quickly snapped up, but the rest drag, 

 being used mainly for funeral work. 



Roses are in good supply and the 

 quality is excellent. Ophelia seems to 

 predominate, but there is a long list of 

 varieties furnishing a liberal cutting. 

 The cut of American Beauty is not 

 heavy, although adequate to the de- 

 mand. 



The supply of gardenias is still light 

 and really fine flowers are scarce; most 

 of them are sold before their arrival. 

 Orchids are only in fair supply, with 

 cattleyas decidedly short. TriansB is 

 the only variety suitable for corsage 

 work coming in and perfect flowers of 

 good size bring 75 cents easily. Oneid- 

 iums are plentiful, as also are dendro- 

 biums of the Phalsenopsis variety; a 

 few sprays of Phalsenopsis amabilis 

 are seen, earlier than usual for them. 



Lilies and callas are arriving in 

 quantity sufficient for the demand. Lily 

 of the valley remains of poor quality. 

 A few sweet peas are arriving, but do 

 not attract much attention. Mignon- 

 ette, snapdragon, bouvardia, calen- 

 dulas and pansies are plentiful and 

 Paper White narcissi are putting in an 

 appearance. 



The weather is cool and buying gen- 

 erally is heavier in consequence. As 

 conditions are settling, the public de- 

 mand for flowers is improving and the 

 trade is hopeful that by New Year's 

 business will bear a semblance of pre- 

 war conditions. 



An Important Meeting. 



President C. H. Totty and Secretary 

 John Young left for Atlantic City, N. J., 

 December 2, where they were to meet 

 Washington Eepresentative William F. 

 Gude, and George Asmus, of Chicago, all 

 members of the committee which Presi- 

 dent Totty appointed to represent the 

 S. A. F. at the convention of the United 

 States Chamber of Commerce to take 

 place December 4 at Atlantic City. Del- 

 egates representing every line of indus- 

 try will be in attendance at this meet- 

 ing, the ob.iect of which is a discussion 

 of the problems of readjustment of busi- 

 ness generally. The problems are many, 

 according to the call issued for the 

 meeting, one of the most important be- 

 ing the question: "Are we to have 

 government paternalism in industry? 

 Do we want government supervision, or 

 shall we demand individual creativeness 

 through legal and helpful combination? 



Remember Germany 's paternalism, 

 which became autocratic, and the weak- 

 ness of paternalism in France." Presi- 

 dent Schenck, of the New York Florists' 

 Club, appointed Frank H. Traendly and 

 Charles H. Brown to represent the club 

 at the convention and it is understood 

 that C. Albert Small is to represent the 

 New York Retail Florists' Association. 

 A meeting of the secretaries of the va- 

 rious organizations taking part in the 

 convention is called for the afternoon 

 of December 4 at the Traymore hotel. 

 The convention will be held at Young's 

 Pier. 



No Spring Show. 



A meeting of the flower show com- 

 mittee was ^Id at the office of the sec- 

 retary, 1170 Broadway, December 2. 

 The question of holding a flower show 

 next spring was fully discussed. It was 

 ultimately decided that in view of the 

 fact that no building is available for 

 the staging of a show which in char- 

 acter would compare with previous 

 shows, and that prospective exhibitors 

 in the competitive section would find it 

 difficult, if not impossible, to produce 

 material for exhibition within the lim- 

 ited time between now and Easter, the 

 1919 show be postponed until the follow- 

 ing year. Mr. HoUaman, of the Inter- 

 national Exposition Co., assured the 

 committee the Grand Central Palace 

 would again be available at that time. 

 It was practically agreed that the show 

 in 1920 should open on a Monday and 

 on dates which would permit closing two 

 weeks before Easter, which occurs 

 April 4. 



Various Notes. 



Retail florists are rejoicing that pas- 

 senger service to Europe has been re- 

 sumed and notices of sailings appear 

 daily in the newspapers. It is hoped 

 that it will not be long t»efore steamer 

 business is again a strong feature of 

 the New York florists' trade. 



Elmer D. Smith & Co., of Adrian, 

 Mich., will exhibit some new varieties 

 of late chrysanthemums at the meeting 

 of the New York Florists' Club Decem- 

 ber 9. As the election of officers wiU 

 take place at this meeting, there should 

 be a large attendance. 



According to an order issued by the 

 U. S. Fuel Administration, effective De- 

 cember 2, all restrictions regarding a 

 fuel supply for florists are lifted. While, 

 perhaps, at this late date such action 

 will not benefit many, it should serve to 

 eliminate the sometimes stupid inter- 

 ference with the delivery of legitimate 

 supplies by local administrators. 



Patrick Dunigan, more generally 

 known as "Paddy," was found dead in 

 bed December 2 at his home in Jersey 

 City. He was for many years in the 

 employ of M. C. Ford, wholesale florist 

 at 121 West Twenty-eighth street, but 

 for the last three months was employed 

 by Joseph J. Levy, 56 West Twenty- 

 sixth street. 



Richard Vincent, Jr., of White Marsh, 

 Md., was a visitor recently. 



Curt Thimm, the carnation and chrys- 

 anthemum grower, of East Williston, 

 L. L, had an unpleasant experience No- 

 vember 27. Deciding to bring his flow- 

 ers into market on his own car to in- 

 sure early arrival, he started with a big 

 load; but while on the main road east 

 of Jamaica, the car turned turtle. For- 

 tunately Mr. Thimm escaped injury, but 

 a quantity of the flowers was badly dam- 

 aged. However, assistance was ob- 



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