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The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



August 15, 1907. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



The RiiioE Eastern Market 



The feature of the market this week is 

 the immense quantity of asters, chiefly 

 of tlie poorer grade. These are difficult 

 to sell and prices have declined, the num- 

 ber in the select class being comparative- 

 ly small. Gladioli are also on the down- 

 ward track. The white and lighter 

 shades are in demand, but the red and 

 dull shades are difficult to sell at any 

 price. Beauties are in demand, with the 

 supply increasing and improving in qual- 

 ity. Kaiserins are good, and sell fairly 

 well. The market for greens was active 

 for several days lately. 



Indications point to an increase in the 

 finer grades of asters during the next 

 few days. It should have been men- 

 tioned that rose-pink and lavender and 

 purple are the best sellers, with fancy 

 whites, while ])oor white and the dull, 

 or old-rose, shade of pink do not sell. 

 Valley has been scarce. Harrisii «re 

 fine. 



Novelties. 



Through the courtesy of the members 

 of the firm of M. Rice & (Jo. Review 

 readers will l>e given an advance view 

 of some of the novelties already in their 

 warehouse. Mr. Rice first pointed out 

 a new raffia scarf, a pleasing and simple 

 thing, admirably adapted for creating a 

 background where a light effect is de- 

 sired. These scarfs are perhaps 2x12 

 feet, flowered, and come both in the 

 natural raffia color, which is preferable, 

 and a deep green. Next came the nat- 

 ural willow tree stumps, an original idea 

 of Mr. Eschner, and one that has found 

 favor with a few of our bright retailers 

 who have already seen it. These stumps 

 are from two feet six inches to six feet 



Willow Tree Stumps of Rice & Co. 



in height, the larger sizes having a great- 

 er number of pockets than the smaller. 

 These pockets are each fitted with a fiber 

 vase. No two stumps are exactly alike, 

 the pockets coming in different positions 

 in stumps of the same size. The special 

 use for which the stumps were intended 

 is to decorate a store window, but they 

 may be used advantageously in any form 

 of decoration. 



An asparagus wreath, of natural as- 



paragus, prepared to insure durability, 

 has already met favor. It is a pretty 

 thing, capable of effective combinations 

 for funeral or Christmas work. The 

 skeleton leaves, resembling a delicate 

 mosquito netting, so popular last season 

 with a few of the leading retailers, iire 





Antique Oval Willow Ferneries of 

 Rice & Co. 



given a prominent place, Mr. Rice feel- 

 ing that this is a thing of merit that 

 should be generally used. One of our 

 leading retailers, Robert Kift, used these 

 leaves last season on top of a box of 

 flowers, and added a delicate touch by 

 writing with a brush dipped in gilt over 

 the surfpcc of the green veined leaf the 

 words * * Bon voyage " or " Compliments 

 of the season ' ' or some other appropriate 

 sentiment. 



A new line of oak wood vases, hand- 

 some and substantial, ornamented with 

 iron bars, was shown, and then Mr. 

 Eschner took up the role of cicerone. His 

 first novelty was an improved plant mat, 

 Porto Rican style, less clumsy than the 

 stamlard mats so long in use. These 

 con-e in all the flower colors, and seem a 

 deci«led acqui.<ition. The wedding gates, 

 kneeling stools, and electroliers, with 

 their- many-colored silken shades, are a 

 more and more important product of the 

 factory. Reed is the principal ingre- 

 dient in the gates and stools, with their 

 high backs, or arm-rests. Many of our 

 first -clas:j florists always keep a set or 

 "two of thps,» on hand. 



llie natural effects in plant baskets oc- 

 cupy a large space in the show-room. 

 Natural willow, natural rush, and chip 

 are seen in a great variety of pretty 

 shapes. Cocoafiber baskets are another 

 novelty that will surely win admirers. 

 These natural effects are not confined to 

 the, plant baskets, they are also in those 

 intended for cut flowers. Some choice 

 ferneries of, I think, birch, are orna- 

 mented with snake effects in gilt, rather 

 odd and pleasing. Another style is a 

 fernery made of rattan, very tough, the 

 natural and deep tones of color being 

 strictly adhered to, to the exclusion of 

 anything bright that might detract from 

 the color of the flowers or foliage. 



An improved Westphalian waterproof 

 crepe paper is lighter than the standard 

 and more easily adapted to medium and 

 small size plants. In ribbons, M. Rice & 

 Co. are even more largely interested than 

 in the past. They have this year added 

 a Richmond rose shade, exactly matching 

 the new and jojular variety of that 



name. They have had for some time an 

 American Beauty shade, at one time so 

 difficult to secure. A novelty in this de- 

 partment is the waterproof maline, in- 

 valuable because of its ability to with- 

 stand moisture. It can be had in widths 

 from six and one-half to thirteen and 

 one-half inches, in all the flower shades 

 of color. 



These few notes, gathered from an im- 

 mense selection of florists' supplies, may 

 be pf interest to some of our readers, 

 and Hiill at least convey th© idea thait M. 

 Rice & Co.* are wide awake and fully 

 abreast, or perhaps a little ahead of the 

 times. 



Final Convention Arrangements. 



The chairmen of the various commit- 

 tees- report everything in readiness for 

 next week's convention. Members are 

 earnestly requested to register promptly 

 at the secretary's office, as much of the 

 success of the arrangements for the ear- 

 lier entertainments will depend on know- 

 ing exactly how many may be expected. 

 A' large gathering at each and every en- 

 tertainment is the aim. 



William Graham, chairman of the 

 bowling committee, has secured the 

 Olympic alleys. Arch street below Broad, 

 for the ladies' and the men's individual 

 bowling matches. There are twelve al- 

 leys at this place. Mr. Graham is par- 

 ticularly anxious for entries of teams to 

 consist of five ladies each in the ladies' 

 team matches. The intercity team match 

 will, as stated before, be rolled on the 

 Terminal alleys, on Filbert street below 

 Thirteenth. Both these events take place 

 on Thursday afternoon, probably at 1 

 o 'clock. 



A. B. Cartledge, chairman of the shoot- 



Cocoa Fibre Baskets of Rice & Co. 



ing committee, is out of town, but all 

 arrangements for a good shoot, with 

 handsome trophies, are perfected. 



Charles D. Ball, chairman of the la- 

 dies' committee, has secured open cars, 

 which will be in readiness at Broad and 

 Locust streets, at 1 o 'clock sharp on 

 Thursday afternoon, to take the ladies 

 on their outing to Willow Grove, where 

 they will first go to the music pavilion. 



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