20 



The Florists^ Review 



January 30, 1919. 



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BUCKEYE BULL'S-EYES 



THE OUTLOOK. 



The brief period of post-holiday 

 quietude for florists is now well past 

 and business has settled upon a firm 

 and stable basis. The much dreaded 

 time of reconstruction is gradually pass- 

 ing into history and the flower trade is 

 not only holding its own, but is going 

 at an unprecedented pace. It now can 

 be safely predicted that the remaining 

 months of the winter will be record- 

 breakers and that the available supply 

 of plants and flowers will be decidedly 

 inadequate to meet the demands of the 

 spring months. An army of 2,000,000 

 young men is slowly returning to its 

 former place in civil life, which is sure 

 to accelerate all social activities. As 

 flowers are constantly increasing in 

 popularity, their use in this dawning 

 time of joy and gladness may logically 

 be expected to be more general and 

 lavish than ever before. As the neces- 

 sity for war gardens no longer exists, 

 outdoor planting will be taken up again 

 in earnest in the spring and the inter- 

 rupted work of beautifying the home 

 surroundings will be resumed with the 

 impetus that comes only from the repose 

 of peace and the greater diffusion of 

 wealth. There never existed greater in- 

 centive to prepare bumper crops to meet 

 this almost certain demand; and the 

 florist who has the goods will be well 

 remunerated for his foresight and in- 

 dustry. It is worthy of note that while 

 almost every other industry is suffering 

 a slight depression at present, the flo- 

 rists' business has escaped, and is in a 

 healthy condition. Substantial reduc- 

 tions already have been made in the 

 prices of boilers and structural steel is 

 expected to decline. The price of glass 

 is still prohibitive, but it must come 

 down, which, with the plenitude of 

 cheaper labor and the improved mar- 

 ket for greenhouse products, should 

 stimulate building. Mac. 



FLOBAL AST. 



When the artist essays to paint a pic- 

 ture, the author to write a story and the 

 architect to plan a house, they strive 

 to make their work different from any 

 other by imparting to it a certain in- 

 dividuality. Otherwise there would be 

 little variety in their respective fields. 

 Would it not be well for workers with 

 flowers to give more heed to this gen- 

 eral principle? Or will it be argued that 

 they have not the timet 



The successful florists of the day are 

 men who recognize the importance of 

 giving character and expression to their 

 output. The same characteristics are 

 manifest in the appointments of their 

 stores, the personalities of their sales- 

 men and their delivery outfits. They 

 are well worthy of emulation. 



The majority of florists, however, do 

 not realize that they move within the 

 realm of art. Their work is invariably 

 performed hastily and with little va- 

 riety. They are content with giving 

 good value and fresh flowers and ar- 

 ranging them as desired. True, many of 

 them are successful, but, having no set 



ideals, their business remains common- 

 place, possessing nothing to lend inspira- 

 tion. Oftentimes new assistants, who 

 understand thoroughly the rudiments 

 of color harmonies by reason of supe- 

 rior training, are forced to give up 

 originality in catering to the supposed 

 requirements of a certain trade. 



The smaller florists in particular are 

 badly in need of training in the skill- 

 ful and harmonious use of flowers. This 

 was demonstrated at the time of the 

 epidemic, when stock was extremely 

 scarce. Their call for short roses and 

 carnations was persistent, simply be- 

 cause of inability to introduce effective 

 variety into their creations by the em- 

 ployment of materials in greater sup- 

 ply, and consequently much business was 

 lost. Mac. 



KEPLANTINa OLD SPBENGEBI. 



I have a bed, 5^x100 feet, of As- 

 paragus Sprengeri, which we have con- 

 stantly been cutting from for five years. 

 The bench on which it is grown needs 

 repairs, new bottom boards, etc. I 

 have been told that after two years it 

 is better to throw out the old plants 

 and put in new, but it seems to me 

 that we cut just as much after five 

 years as we did after two years, or 

 at any time. Can I take out the old 

 plants, repair the bench and put the 

 stock back to advantage, and how many 

 of the old plants, if any, will I lose! 

 I get many valuable ideas from The 

 Review and shall be pleased with a 

 suggestion on this subject. 



L. P. — Mass. 



At the end of five years' service it 

 is doubtful whether the plants of As- 

 paragus Sprengeri would be worth the 

 labor of lifting and replanting after 

 rebuilding the bench. It would seem 

 better to prop the table up temporarily 

 until the rush of spring work is over; 

 then rebuild it and replant with young 

 stock. Young plants of Sprengeri may 

 be had for from $3.50 to $4 per hundred 

 in 2% -inch pots. Such stock potted 

 on would make good planting material 

 by the time you are ready to use it. 



W. H. T. 



BRIEF AKSWEBS. 



F. C. S., Minn. — The effectiveness of 

 the proposed method of heating hotbeds 

 will depend on the location and depres- 

 sion of the hot water heater; your letter 

 contains no information on these points. 



J. E. S., 0. — Without cold storage you 

 should not attempt to keep cut ferns 

 in quantity; order a case or so at a time 

 from some one who has storage facil- 

 ities. Keep them covered, damp and 

 cool until used. 



E. A. M., N. Y. — See The Review for 

 January 23, page 18; December 26, page 

 14; December 19, page 16. 



L. S. H., Id. — About the ribbon, con- 

 sult your customer's wishes; about the 

 greenhouse, go ahead, the business will 

 increase each year. 



G. B. M., Pa. — Canna roots may be 



started any time now; watch "Season- 

 able Suggestions." 



0. C, Okla. — ^Bisulphide of carbon can 

 not be used except to kill pests in the 

 soil; so used it will not injure the plants. 



E. F. B., Mass. — Carnations, 50 de- 

 grees; roses, 56 degrees; geraniums and 

 miscellaneous stock, 45 to 50 degrees. 



H. & S., Pa. — Auratum, see The Re- 

 view for December 26, page 18. The 

 heating capacity of a boiler depends 

 not so much on its horsepower as on 

 the conditions under which it works. 



W. & S., O. — See leading article, is- 

 sue of January 16. 



NEW YORE. 



The Market. 



The market continues to be notable 

 for the small volume of business trans- 

 acted, for its meager supply of flowers 

 and for general apathy. The buying is 

 of the hand-to-mouth variety; although 

 buyers cover for regular business quite 

 early in the day, they are obliged to 

 shop around to pick up requirendents 

 should an exceptional order turn up. A 

 retailer who might receive, say, an 

 order, late in the day, for a casket cover 

 calling for a quantity of flowers, finds 

 difficulty in getting his material and 

 not infrequently calls upon brother re- 

 tailers for assistance. The public de- 

 mand is light and proportionate to the 

 prices now in vogue. The consuming 

 demand is not expected to expand until 

 retail prices become more nearly normal. 

 The close relation of supply and de- 

 mand, of course, is what is carrying 

 the situation now, the short supply cov- 

 ering actual needs only. 



Little relief is in sight. The supply 

 of roses is, if anything, shorter than last 

 week and many carnation growers are 

 off crop. Thus there is small probability 

 of a material decline in prices. 



Carnations remain at 10 and 12 cents 

 for the best grades, with left-over stock 

 — and it is a little more in evidence now 

 — going at 6 to 8 cents. The finer grades 

 are most in demand and are none too 

 plentiful. 



American Beauty roses are not plenti- 

 ful, but there are enough for the de- 

 mand. Their price keeps up, along with 

 other flowers, and the prospect of con- 

 cessions is slim. Other roses are any- 

 thing but plentiful, but little change 

 in prices is noticed. There is an early 

 clean-up each day, with an entire ab- 

 sence of speculative buying. 



Orchids are plentiful and cattleyas 

 move well within a range of 20 to 40 

 cents each. They are being largely used 

 in funeral work, the cost of other flow- 

 ers giving them an advantage in this 

 respect. Oncidiums are on the scarce 

 side, but are not in lively demand. Gar- 

 denias are fairly plentiful, but the 

 acme of quality appears to have passed, 

 really fine flowers not being greatly in 

 evidence. Consequently prices cover a 

 wide range. 



Bulbous stock is in small supply and 

 the offerings somewhat low in grade. 

 Tulips are bringing $1.50 per dozen for 

 the best and trumpet narcissi the same. 

 Paper Whites are 75 cents per bunch. 

 These prices are practically staple day 

 by day, when the quality is of average 

 character. 



There is a plentiful supply of Easter 

 lilies, but arrivals move well at 25 cents 

 for the best. Lily of the valley con- 

 tinues in small supply without change 



