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December 19, 1918. 



The Florists^ Review 



19 



NEW TOBK. 



The Market. 



While it cannot be said that the de- 

 mand for a week past has been particu- 

 larly heavy, it has been sufficient to in- 

 sure the absorption of all arrivals at 

 prices generally high. This is because 

 consignments have been particularly 

 light. Outside of a limited supply of 

 chrysanthemums of the Godfrey type, 

 we have seen the last of these flowers 

 for the season. Arrivals of carnations 

 are more numerous, but not nearly so 

 heavy as might be expected at this time; 

 consequently, blooms bring abnormally 

 high prices. The variety Mrs. C. W. 

 Ward, in fancy grades, brought as high 

 as 12 cents Pecember 14 and 10 cents 

 was the average top for other varieties; 

 only short-stemmed flowers brought less 

 than 8 cents. Some of the larger car- 

 nation growers are only now commenc- 

 ing to ship, so late was benching accom- 

 plished. The shortage in carnations may 

 continue over the holidays, but after- 

 wards we may expect a deluge. 



Boses are in liberal supply, but are 

 active in movement, as they have the 

 preference over all other flowers. Buy- 

 ers prefer to pay as high as 15 cents for 

 roses in the extra grades rather than 12 

 cents for carnations, believing there is a 

 much better ratio of value. Arrivals are 

 showing Christmas quality notwith- 

 standing the spell of unusually mild 

 weather we are having. American 

 Beauty has advanced, and it is expected 

 that the Christmas cut will bring the 

 prices of other years. 



Cattleyas are in quantity sufficient for 

 the demand. They appear to lag, how- 

 ever, on account of the prices asked, 

 which are $1 to $1.25 for the best; lower 

 grades at 75 cents and less move quick- 

 ly. Cypripediums sell well, but the sup- 

 ply is light. There are few spray or- 

 chids available. 



Gardenias are in heavier supply and 

 prices in consequence have receded. The 

 best bring $6 per dozen, but the bulk 

 of sales are in grades at $3 to $5. The 

 stock in the better grades is fine, the 

 flowers mounted on stems of good length. 



Lilies are in good demand, but the 

 supply is small. Buyers have had to pay 

 20 cents, and even more, per flower, for 

 the best. One large shipper has finished 

 his crop and will not plant more bulbs, 

 as the stock available is said to be in- 

 ferior, which is not at all surprising. 



Sweet peas are in better supply, and 

 arrivals no doubt will be heavier each 

 day from now on. Most of the early 

 cuts were lost through the dropping of 

 buds, supposedly due to atmospheric 

 conditions, which of late have been try- 

 ing for peas. Calendulas are in plenty, 

 and move well on account of the general 

 shortage of other fiowers. Stevia, bou- 

 vardia, wallflowers, pansies, snapdrag- 

 ons, mignonette and callas clean up 

 well, as do other flowers not seen in 

 great quantity. One grower is shipping 

 in strelitzia, the bird-of-paradise flower, 

 which serves as a curiosity in window 

 display. A few poinsettias are arriv- 

 ing, but are too far ahead of their sea- 

 son to attract much attention. 



Plantsmen report a general clean-up 

 of Christmas stock, a brisk business be- 

 ing done, at prices in advance of those 

 in previous seasons. A heavy holiday 

 trade in cut flowers is not probable, as 

 a short supply only is expected. 



Retailers Meet. 



A meeting of retailers was held De- 



JAMES McHUTCHISON. 



AFTER James McHutchison had devoted a number of years to the florists', 

 seed and nursery business in Australia, his native country. New Zealand and 

 England, he came to the United States, where he spent five years as a traveling 

 salesman for August Rhotert. Then he decided that he would, as he expresses it, 

 "Americanize the European plant, seed and nursery business." To do this he 

 secured an office in New York city and founded the firm of McHutchison & Co., 

 in 1902. During the firm 's first thr^e years in business it was forced to move 

 three times, each move being into larger quarters. In 1916, Mr. McHutchison 

 bought the building that now houses the business at 95 Chambers street. Before 

 importations practically stopped because of the war, McHutchison & Co. handled 

 ninety per cent of the raffia supply that came to this country. The firm repre- 

 sents many foreign producers of seeds, bulbs, plants and nursery stock and acts 

 as agent for the American buyers. The story of the firm is the story of Mr. 

 McHutchison. 



cember 12, at which, it is understood, 

 market conditions in general were dis- 

 cussed, particularly as regards the prices 

 now in force, which are considered to 

 be unjustifiably high. The growers as- 

 sert that prices are settled by general 

 conditions. They say that it should be 

 apparent to all that the cost of produc- 

 tion is double what it was formerly and, 

 therefore, prices are no higher than they 

 might be expected to be. Labor, fuel 

 and supplies of all kinds are important 

 factors in the general cost, and the ad- 

 vance in cost of these items is not more 

 than covered in today's prices of prod- 

 ucts. They believe the public should 

 not expect to get flowers at pre-war 

 prices, any more than the various other 

 commodities for which they pay prices 

 much more advanced. 



Various Notes. 



The MacNiff Horticultural Co., 56 

 Vesey street, dealing in bulbs, etc., was 

 discharged from bankruptcy December 

 10. 



Captain Joseph Raphael De Lamar, 

 of Glen Cove, L, I., whose death we 

 lately recorded as of one who was a 

 liberal supporter of our flower shows, 

 left $10,000,000 to scientific institu- 

 tions devoted to the care of public 

 health. 



Joseph A. Muller and Frank G. Sealey, 

 formerly salesmen for the Julius Boehrs 

 Co., Rutherford, N. J., and well known 

 to the trade throughout the country, 

 have formed a partnership and opened 

 an office at 47 West Forty-second street, 

 where they will deal in horticultural 

 products and supplies under the style of 



