20 



The Florists^ Review 



Jancaet 2, 1913. 



BUFFALO, N. Y. 



The Market. 



/ 



More seasonable weather could not 

 have prevailed for Christmas than we 

 had in Buffalo: just enough snow to 

 cover the ground, and not too cold. 

 We could hardly expect the tempera- 

 ture above freezing, but it was so close 

 to it that the usual inconvenience was 

 done away with. Trade started early 

 and kept on until the last. Every de- 

 partment seemed to increase, and the 

 sale of plants was tremendous, espe- 

 cially the poinsettias. Everything was 

 cleaned out. Begonias, cyclamens and 

 azaleas were much in demand, and 

 there was the usual call for ferns and 

 palms. Cut stock sold well and at good 

 prices, as all lines were scarce, with the 

 exception of roses. Violets brought $3 

 per hundred and valley $2 per bunch. 

 Decorations of every description were 

 used more freely than usual this sea- 

 son, and while this means a lot of work 

 at the last minute, it all makes big sales. 

 The dwellings demanded a Christmas 

 look this year, which is somewhat new, 

 but no doubt brought about by the , 

 sight of the many stores, with the red 

 and, green appearance. Hardly a store 

 of any description lacked in this re- 

 spect. 



Various Notes. 



The long coming spirit of advertis- 

 ing struck Buffalo florists by storm this 

 season, and the result was no less than 

 five stores with attractive spaces. This 

 no doubt helped everybody, for the 

 ideas advanced made many more people 

 wish for a plant as a Christmas gift, 

 and in turn to send one. 



One of the worst things vyhich could 

 happen to a flower store one week 

 before Christmas is a fire. The Lenox 

 Flower Shop, owned and managed by 

 E. H. Altman, had this experience. The 

 fire broke out early in the rnorning, 

 from an overheated furnace, and while 

 the fire was mostly confined to the 

 basement, the smoke and water did 

 enough damage to wreck the place 

 completely. Fortunately, the building 

 was left intact and Mr. Altman, evQr 

 ready for anything, managed affairs so 

 effectively that he opened the next 

 morning for business. Through the 

 courtesy of some of the dealers his 

 wires were answered promptly, and he 

 is proud to say that this Christmas he 

 enjoyed the best business of his career. 

 In connection we will say that Miss 

 Irma Altman 's name has been added 

 to the letter-head. R. A. S. 



WATERLOO, lA. 



The Market. 



The weather here for the last few 

 weeks has been the most ideal that we 

 have ever experienced at this time of 

 the year. Christmas day and the days 

 before were rather warm, thus saving 

 a great deal of time in the wrapping 

 of plants and cut flowers. Saturday, 

 December 28, was even warmer. All 

 the growers are hoping that it will last 

 a while longer, as it helps cut down on 

 the coal bills. 



Christmas in this locality is becoming 

 more and more of a plant holiday. The 

 high cost of cut flowers is thought to 

 be the reason. The best sellers in the 

 plant line are azaleas, cyclamens, 

 primulas and poinsettias. Paper "Whites 

 in pots are also good sellers. Good 

 poinsettias were scarce, but it appears 



NEW S. A. F. DIRECTOR 



Thomas F. Roland. 



IN naming Thomas F. Roland, of Nahant, Mass., as a member of the board of 

 directors of the Society of American Florists, President Farquhar has chosen one 

 of New England's most skillful plantsmen. There is none among the visitors to 

 the National Flower Show in Boston last year who does not hold in pleasant 

 memory the group of hard-wooded plants Mr. Roland staged there. Its like never 

 has been seen in America. And his rose garden at the same exhibition was not 

 less notable. Mr. Roland's establishment at Nahant has been the Mecca to which 

 many pilgrim plantsmen have journeyed for inspiration, and he recently has built 

 a new plant at Revere, Mass., where he has one of the largest houses in New 

 England, devoted to sweet peas. Mr. Roland is still a young man. f.^l of energy, 

 and will be a distinct acquisition to the list of active workers of the national 

 society. 



that the growers here were not the 

 only ones who had poor stock. 



Roses and carnations were plentiful 

 and good with some of the growers, 

 and just the reverse with others. 

 Christmas greens of all kinds sold bet- 

 ter than ever. Some thought that they 

 had an oversupply a few days before 

 Christmas, but found that they did not 

 have enough to meet the demand. 



Funeral work has been exceptionally 

 heavy this fall and kept all surplus 

 stock pretty well cleaned up. 



Various Notes. 



N. H. Loomis, who has space in one 

 of the well-known dry goods stores, 

 says he is well satisfied with the busi- 

 ness that he has picked up since he 

 came here several months ago. Christ- 

 mas trade was exceptionally good.# 



Crittenden & Kemble, formerly Crit- 

 tenden & Daniel, report that they had 

 a fairly good Christmas and cleaned up 

 almost everything. 



Geo. Bancroft, of Jos. Bancroft & 

 Son, Cedar Falls, seemed to be much 

 pleased with the business they enjoyed 

 at Christmas. While their roses were a 



bit off crop, they had a good cut of 

 carnations. Christmas trees, holly and 

 other green stock sold better than ever, 

 he stated. 



The New York Floral Co., a Greek 

 concern, is no longer in existence. 

 Chas. Sherwood bought it out January 

 1 and closed up the place. 



Chas. Sherwood had an abundance of 

 good stock except poinsettias. He went 

 in heavily on these, but they did not 

 turn out well. Mr. Sherwood states 

 that while there was only a slight 

 increase in business over last year, 

 there were a great many more buyers, 

 the majority of them wanting pot 

 plants. Checks ranging in amounts 

 from $2 to $10 were given to all the 

 employees as Christmas gifts. 



John Pegler, with the Sherman Nur- 

 sery Co., Charles City, la., who was 

 operated on at one of the local hos- 

 pitals several weeks ago, last week 

 returned to his home. 



Harry Daniel, who sold out his in- 

 terest in the firm of Crittenden & 

 Daniel to Mr. Kemble, of Marshall- 

 town, will spend the winter in Texas. 



L. S. H. 



