16 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



Decdmbbr 23, 1909. 



BOSTON. 



Tlie Market 



Christmas is in the air and everything 

 points to a splendid trade. The weather 

 has been ideal of late and nothing but a 

 spell of untoward climatic conditions can 

 prevent business during the present week 

 being about the best on record. Plant 

 growers are already well cleaned out and 

 although prices on these show little 

 change from preceding years, the de- 

 mand is far better and a general feel- 

 ing of optimism, such as was lacking a 

 year ago, prevails. 



In cut flowers trade, as is customary 

 during the two or three weeks preceding 

 Christmas, has been quiet and arrivals 

 have been fewer than usual. At the 

 first of the week prices were hardening 

 all around and the supply of flowers 

 promised to be none too great. In roses, 

 best grade Beauties were up to $9 per 

 dozen and will probably bring $12 later 

 in the week. The finest Eichmond are 

 likely to bring $5 and $6 per dozen, with 

 $2,50 and $3 as top notch on Killarney. 

 Short-stem flowers are now bringing $4 

 without any trouble. Bride and Maid 

 move poorly, compared with other varie- 

 ties. „ 



Carnations are selling well; even 

 whites make $3 and $4, with fancies at 

 $5 and $6. Eeds and crimsons are, as 

 usual, in best demand, but all colored 

 varieties sell at good prices. Violets 

 have been scarce of late, probably due 

 to the holding back process. The pre- 

 vailing rates are $1 to $1.25, but the 

 best will sell higher later in the week. 

 Lilies and callas remain about the same. 

 Chrysanthemums are mostly of small or 

 medium size; only a small number of 

 sizable flowers will be left for the holi- 

 days. Some nice marguerites are com- 

 ing in, also small lots of freesias and 

 yellow narcissi. Gardenias are rather 

 more plentiful. The cattleya scarcity is 

 relieved by arrivals of C. Trianse, in 

 addition to C. Percivaliana. There is a 

 good sale for asparagus, smilax and all 

 kinds of ferns. 



Business in Christmas greenery is re- 

 markably good and dealers in these 

 staples are rushed to the limit. Holly 

 is mostly well berried and mistletoe, both 

 native and imported, is fine. Wreathing 

 of all kinds is in big demand. The al- 

 most entire absence of snow hitherto has 

 been favorable for a big output ot 

 native greenery. 



Qub Meeting. 



Coming, as it did, so near Christmas, 

 it was feared the attendance December 

 21 would suffer, but such did not prove 

 to be the case, there being a rousing 

 gathering. The election of officers by 

 the Australian ballot system resulted as 

 follows: 



President— J. W. Duncan. 



Vice-presideut— Peter Miller. 



Secretary— W. N. Craig. 



Treasurer — Edward Hatch. 



Executive committee— J. P. A. Gueri- 

 neau, W. E. Fischer, 11. E. Fiske, Thomas 



Peter Fisher, one of the candidates for 

 executive committee, withdrew his name, 

 he already having served one or two 

 terms and wishing to give others a show. 



The proposed taxation of florists 

 crops under glass came up for discussion 

 and the club will do whatever is possi- 

 ble to remove this threatened burden. 

 Several members said that if enacted it 

 would mean putting them out of busi- 

 ness Prof. E. A. White, of the Amherst 



Agricultural College, outlined the short 

 winter course in practical floriculture, 

 which will be given during the present 

 winter, with lectures by many well known 

 specialists. 



There was a goodly display of ex- 

 hibits on the tables. Eber Holmes, from 

 the Montrose Greenhouses, had a fine col- 

 lection of roses, including both new and 

 old varieties. W. N. Craig showed a col- 

 lection of winter flowering zonal gera- 

 niums, including such varieties as Paul 

 Crampel, Jacquerie, Pamela, Emile Zola, 

 Tom McLaren and Mrs. Brown Potter, 

 as well as several new English sorts. 

 Peter Fisher brought fine May Day 

 carnation. D. Finlayson had a splendid 

 collection of calanthes and F. W. Fletcher 

 showed lopezia. 



It was announced that January 18 

 would be installation night, with a 

 stereopticon lecture by E. H. Wilson on 

 his plant-collecting travels in western 

 China, and that January 27 would come 

 the annual banquet and dance. Several 

 new members Avere elected. Some queries 

 from the question box were answered 

 and refreshments were served as usual 

 before the meeting closed. 



Various Notes. 



A. Eoper is picking some extra fine 

 flowers from his new scarlet seedling 

 carnation, William Penn. 



E. MacMulkin's Christmas window in 

 scarlet is, as usual, exceedingly attract- 

 ive. Among other flowering plants, he 

 lias some extra fine bougainvilleas. 



Welch Bros, are handling an enormous 

 amount of material at present, and in 

 both greenery, fiowers and plants their 

 shipping trade is likely to break all 

 records. 



Peter Fisher has a new cerise seedling 

 carnation, which he thinks highly of, 

 also an extra fine variegated, like Mrs. 

 G. M. Bradt in color. 



J. Newman & Sons, on Tremont row, 

 have their windows artistically arranged. 

 Their azaleas are extra fine and all other 

 pot plants equally good. 



The threatened taxation of florists' 

 growing crops is rousing growers all 

 over the state. In Framingham the vari- 

 ous florists are strongly banded together 

 and have refused to give tax assessors 

 any information. They have also re- 

 tained legal counsel. Similar moves are 

 being made all over the state. Private 

 estates, it is stated, will be exempt. 

 Growers in every part of the state should 

 prepare themselves for the fight when, 

 it comes, as it undoubtedly will. If 

 florists' brains are to be taxed, it would 

 almost seem as if crops of strawberries 

 and many other market garden crops 

 could hardly be made exempt. In some 

 of the larger cities, including Boston, 

 the tax on growing crops under glass 

 has previously been levied, but this is the 

 first time it has been carried into the 

 smaller cities and country towns. 



Thomas Pegler is handling an unusual- 

 ly high grade of carnations from George 

 E. Buxton at the Park street market. 



Waban Conservatories have a grand 

 cut of high grade Beauties, Killarneys, 

 White Killarneys and Eichmonds for the 

 holidays. 



The F, W, Fletcher Co. has a good lot 

 of Cattleya labiata for Christmas. These 

 were purchased late and by flowering two 

 months after their usual time are spe- 

 cially valuable, 



W. C. Ward, the pansy specialist, is 

 sendijjg in quantities of his specialty at 

 present. He also hopes to be cutting 



dahlias all winter, Jack Eose being his 

 specialty, 



W. B, Goodenow, of Stoughton, is cut- 

 ting some fine sweet peas. N, F. Com- 

 ley also has a fine crop for the holidays. 



Esty Bros, have an unusually fine lot 

 of double violets, in the culture of which 

 they are specially successful. 



From the big Budlong establishment 

 at Auburn, E, I., some fine Eichmond, 

 Killarney, White Killarney and My 

 Maryland are coming at present, 



W. N. Craig. 



EVANSVILLE^IND. 



The Market. 



We are having an unusually cold De- 

 cember, while we had an exceptionally 

 warm November. Stock has been plen- 

 tiful, especially roses, until this cold 

 spell set in, but there is now a scarcity 

 in all lines, with prospects of continuing 

 so; consequently prices are soaring. 

 Plants of all kinds are in fairly good 

 supply and indications are that all will 

 be sold. 



Various Notes. 



Julius Niednagel & Sons have a large 

 supply of seasonable plants for their 

 Christmas trade, Eoses and carnations 

 here are looking well, though they are 

 off crop, 



William Blackman Floral Co, has put 

 into service a fine new funeral wagon. It 

 is about twelve feet long and has plate 

 glass windows, 2x6 feet, on each side. 

 It is a new departure for a florist in 

 this city. 



Ben Kramer, thinking business was 

 going to be slow for Christmas, took 

 orders for several hundred holly wreaths, 

 and now he is in for it, as he says that 

 indications are for a big trade for the 

 holidays and he will have all he can do. 

 He has laid in a fine stock of plants, 

 especially a fine lot of Boston ferns, and 

 there is a good demand for them. 



Otto Kuebler, at Newburg, is growing 

 his azaleas and they are coming just 

 right for Christmas, 



Louis Fritsch has opened a store on 

 the west side. He has taken over a half 

 store, and if trade is satisfactory he will 

 enlarge. There seems to be no reason 

 why he should not do well, as this side 

 of town is growing rapidly. So far, his 

 business has been quite satisfactory. 



Austin WaUace is having a nice cut 

 of sweet peas. 



Nellie Goodge is expecting a large 

 business. Her carnations are in crop 

 and a nice lot of lilies were seen. She 

 has a good supply of plants and Eoman 

 hyacinths in plenty. Holly wreaths are 

 a specialty with her. 



Eoyston & Fenton say that calls for 

 roses and carnations are heavy and that 

 they will not have anywhere near enough 

 to go around. E. L. F. 



MILWAUKEE. 



TheMaricet 



Business last week was fair, consider- 

 ing that the weather continued severe 

 and that folks do not spend much money 

 for flowers the week before Christmas. 

 The cloudy weather which lasted from 

 November 31 to December 16 has short- 

 ened receipts considerably. The last few 

 days of sunshine will help considerably 

 to increase the supply for the holidays. 

 Prospects are that roses will be equal to 

 demand, while in carnations there may 



