' •.v;:>;:r»<y''v«ir/- ■ j 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



August 26, 1909. 



member are: Do not propagate too 

 *arly; plant in clear sand; never shade, 

 and water sparingly unti^ rooted. 



W. N. Craig. 



SPESAEAS FOR MARKET. 



Are spirffias sold as cut spikes f Are 

 they free sellers and at what price per 

 spike, and what varieties are best sell- 

 ersf C. B. 



Spiraea is not sold to any considerable 



extept as a cut flower, except at Easter 

 or Memorial day. Probably more are 

 disposed of at the latter holiday than any 

 other time. It cannot be recommended as 

 a market flower, on account of its wilting 

 so soon when out of water. Prices vary 

 from $1 to $4 per hundred, a fair aver- 

 age being $2, the higher prices being se- 

 cured only on special occasions. The old 

 S. Japonica is a good deal grown, but 

 compacta grandiflora, Gladstone and astil- 

 boides make much finer spikes. C W. 



\ THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



\ 



SUMMER TABLE DECORATIONS. 



One of the most important items in 

 the leading retail flower stores, especially 

 those in the better class residence sec- 

 tions of the big cities, is the arrangement 

 of flowers on dinner tables. The hostess 

 of means no more thinks of having guests 

 at dinner without flowers than she would 

 permit them to sit down at a table with- 

 out appetizing viands. Naturally the de- 

 mand for dinner flowers is greater in the 

 social season than in the sumtner, but all 

 the year around there is more or less of 

 this business, and it demands the best 

 efforts of the florist. 



Simplicity must be the characteristic 

 of a summer decoration. In hot weather 

 no one wants high or elaborate center- 

 pieces; they must be low and simple, yet 

 artistic. 



In one of the accompanying illustra- 

 tions, where the florist had done his work 

 before the caterer took charge, the large 

 round table had in the center a low, ir- 

 regularly edged glass bowl filled with 

 pink pond lilies, and triangularly spaced 



about midvvay to the edge of the table 

 were vases of valley, with Farleyense 

 fronds. The vases used were the basket- 

 shaped glass ones now handled by prac- 

 tically all the supply houses. This dec- 

 oration was both simple and inexpensive, 

 but it filled the bill to a nicety. 



The centerpiece in the other illustra- 

 tion was somewhat different in charac- 

 ter. The receptacles were on the order 

 of the glass article- used with the 

 japana flower holder once well known 

 in the trade, but these were of finest 

 china, pure white with gold decora- 

 tions, light and graceful. The ware comes 

 in sections, so all the florist has to do 

 is to group as many pieces as he requires 

 for the space and stock. In this case the 

 low. curved sections were filled with only 

 slightly damp, clean, green moss, and 

 the moss in turn was stuck full of Shasta 

 daisies, on which the stems had been 

 much shortened. The tall, urn-like little 

 vases which join the sections contained 

 marigolds with Parleyense fronds. 



Nowadays no one of discriminating 



taste will stand for the oyerhead decora- 

 tions of bygone days, which intercept the 

 view across the table. It behooves all 

 retail florists who are called upon to do 

 dinner work to have a stock of vases and 

 bowls for low work. The greater the 

 variety, and all the supply nouses now 

 offer a wide range of choice, the easier 

 it will be to make each centerpiece dis- 

 tinctive and satisfactory to the customer. 



MECHANICAL AIDS IN DESIGNING 



The Tools of the Trade. 



Not to mention ordinary supplies, such 

 as wire frames, mosses, vases, jars, plant 

 stands, jardinieres, biaskets and other 

 things necessary for the handling and 

 display of flowers, which the supply 

 houses offer and exploit, there are a few 

 tools that are needed in floral work. 



First, of course, are the inevitable 

 scissors and wire. About three or four 

 sizes in shears are needed — large wire 

 cutters, a medium heavy shears for bou- 

 quet wire and stems, and ribbon scissors. 

 Wire for ordinary purposes ranges from 

 No. 21 to No. 36. A stone of No. 36 

 will last a long time, if taken off uncut 

 and kept in small coils. The remainder 

 of the stone snould be wrapped up, as 

 the moisture from the air may be enough 

 to rust it. This fine wire is the thing 

 for shower effects without ribbon, for 

 fine garlands, chains of small flowers and 

 very dainty work where the flowers are 

 not stemmed. Wire from No. 21 to No. 

 26, cut in 12-inch and 18-inch lengths, 

 covers the demands for tying and wiring 

 stems. Of course, for hanging baskets or 

 altering design frames, a heavier wire 

 must be used. 



A few carpenter's tools, for making 

 packing boxes, must also be at hand. 



Wire snips, extra easels, including 

 some square ones of different sizes, and 

 bases for mounting pieces originally 

 intended to be flat, are often called 

 for. A base may be too small for the 

 special arrangement you have planned 

 for a piece, or a design may have too tall 

 a standard, or some other faulty frame 

 construction may need to be remedied 



Shasta Daisies and Marigolds for a Summer Table Decoration. 



