BT.. 



■r*. 



'€'•:■. 



Y> ,■■• ■■>+ 



<;'.>. 



28 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



December 30, 1909. 



Niessen's 



News Column 



It is an undeniable 

 fact that the four great 

 sellers in Roses today are 



Beauties 

 Richmond 

 Pink Killarney 



and 



JVhite Killarney 



We have large qn an titles of 

 them in all grades. Oar epeciah 

 and fancies are hard to beat for 

 quality. Let us have that next 

 order for Rosee. We know that 

 we can please you. 



Carnations 



Our growers are cutting heavily 

 and tha stock is of a fine quality. 

 You will find our prices reason* 

 able, always in keeping with 

 market conditions. 



Bulbous Stock 



It is very plentiful with us and 

 you will find good values in that 

 line. 



Valley 



$3.00 and $4.00 per 100. 



Paper Whites 



$3.00 per 100. 



Romans 



$3.00 and $4.00 per 100. 



Stevia 



25c and 35c per bunch. 



Gardenias 



$4.00 to $6.00 per doz. 



TbeLeo Niessen Co. 



Wholesale Florists 



1209 AkIi Street 



PHILADELPHIA 



Open from 7 a. m. to 8 p. m. 



New Year Specialties 



Easter Lilies 



Nothing more beautiful for decorations; very choice stock, well 



hardened. 



Selected Carnations 



Red, white and pink (two shades), large blooms borne on long, 



stiff stems. 



Roses, Violets, Valley 



The best of everything in the market at reasonable prices. 

 WILD SMILAX for the Decorator. 



W. E. McKISSICK & BROS. 



WHOLESALE FLORISTS 



1619-21 Ranstead St., PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



Mention The Review when you write. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



The Rising Eaitern Market. 



It was a white Christmas. So often 

 has the weather been abused for adverse 

 conditions at a critical stage that it is 

 only fair to give praise for the benefits 

 enjoyed by all branches of the profes- 

 sion. The plantsmen had splendid ship- 

 ping weather up to a week before Christ- 

 mas. The cut flower growers had bright, 

 sunny days up to Christmas eve. The 

 retailers had" ideal shopping conditions 

 until Christmas morning. Then came the 

 severest snow storm in years, a storm 

 that by Sunday blocked railroad and trol- 

 ley service, impeded walking and cut off 

 telephone and telegraph service to a de- 

 gree, and would have caused widespread 

 disaster a few days earlier. December 

 25, rather than November 25, was the 

 real florists' Thanksgiving day of 1909. 



The Christmas plant and flower busi- 

 ness of last week was the largest this 

 city has ever experienced. Growers, 

 wholesalers and retailers agree in this 

 statement. The crops were heavy, the 

 quality was encouraging, the demand 

 tremendous. The prices realized were 

 equal to former years, as a rule, but it 

 generally required a better plant or 

 flower than formerly to bring the prices. 

 In other words, the market was more 

 critical. There was a general disposi- 

 tion to get the stock earlier than in the 

 past, so by Christmas morning business 

 was over, the late city orders usually 

 filled up to morning, or even later, being 

 fewer than common. This fact is ex- 

 plained by the unusual facilities and by 

 the heavy supply. The shipping orders 

 for cut flowers, filled chiefly December 

 22 and December 23, were unusually 

 heavy, taxing the executive ability of the 

 wholesalers to get them out on time. The 

 stock at their command included much 

 fine material that will increase the city's 

 reputation as a flower center. There was 

 some costly holding back, reduced by 

 weather ajid wisdom gained in former 

 years. 



The local demand was peculiar. The 



retailers took pains to push plants, put- 

 ting the excellent material at hand into 

 attractive shape and buying cut flowers- 

 with caution, yet so strong was the pop- 

 ular interest in their stock that before 

 the week was over they had bought cut 

 flowers with a freedom that kept prices 

 firm to the end. 



Violets were a strong factor in the 

 Christmas market, good stock realizing 

 excellent prices. Poinsettias were in short 

 supply. Bed was in demand. Enormous 

 quantities of Eichmond were sold. 

 Beauties also were popular. Killarney 

 Avas in tremendous supply. The mediums 

 and good shorts were not so numerous in 

 proportion to the long stems, and prices 

 ruled lower than a year ago. White roses 

 were not in demand, although some fancy 

 Bride brought extraordinary values. 0. 

 P. Bassett led the red varieties of carna- 

 tions. Beacon also sold well. Enchantress 

 and White Perfection were fine. Holding 

 back and late shipments hurt the carna- 

 tion market, which was dull after De- 

 cember 23. Choice cattleyas, dendrobium;;. 

 cypripediums, gardenias and select valley 

 brought excellent figures. Callas were in 

 limited supply and held firm. Easter lilie? 

 Avere in fair demand. The left-over 

 chrysanthemums, chiefly Jones and somt 

 Nonin, gave good value when bulk was 

 desired. The demand for greens was 

 lighter than usual. 



Of course, there are exceptions to thi- 

 Christmas summary. Some did better, 

 some worse, and some will say that their 

 experience will not agree with the views 

 given. To all these friends let me say 

 that the market is now a large one, made 

 up of many parts, and that what is writ 

 ten here is the honest opinion of one of 

 your number, who is in touch with many 

 of you. 



The great storm has hampered busines?- 

 this week. Some of the left-over stock 

 rushed in on the wholesalers unexpectedly 

 December 25 has come in well, as ship- 

 ments are delayed coming in town. This 

 was also true of the shipments going out 

 December 27. Prices have fallen and 

 conditions are unsettled. Poinsettias are- 

 pretty well over. Greens are abundant^ 





