The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-31

| To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD
The amount OF flowers used In New York for the
Christmas and New Year holidays you may safely
put down at q valuation OF $150,00O Christmas OF
lata years IL much more generally observed, and
large quantities OF live plants for rooms as well as
flowers for dinner tables are presented. The plant
presents attribute more to the German element OF
our population. The amount OF flowers for the
whole year win hardly fall short OF 600 Ooo and
should you include the Towering plants, will exceed
that considerably.
There are from 200 to 800 families depending on
the growth OF plants and Mowers 10 supply New
York. The larger number In a small way are princi-
pally Germans and French. The larger growers and
longest established are Scotch, English and Irish
some Of whom have very extensive establishments,
with thousands OF feet OF glass houses for forcing
flowers for winter. few OF the most extensive
establishments are John Henderson, Broadway, near
Nineteenth street. and Flushing, Long Island; w. c..
Wilson, No. As West Fourteenth street, and Astoria,
Long Island; Andrew Bridgeman, Broadway and
Eighteenth street, and Astoria Long Island Peter
Henderson. Jersey City; James Wier, Bay Ridge,
Long Island with many Others.
The most fashionable flowers for bouquets this
season tea rosebuds, lilies OF the valley volets
carnations, heliotrope, daphne odora, &C., tied IN
loose bunch, with rose geranum and rose leaves
for green. The stiff and formal bouquet Is now sell
dom asked Tor When yon want anything extra
choice, or what may be called Xxx, you must go in
for OrcheadeS. Those are the most rare, gorgeous
and fragrant flowers Of india China, Japan, Mexico
anu tropical America ana are only in Few collec-
tons. Those are the flowers with which the queens
and princesses OF the Old World adorn their hair
bridal and festive occasions. Orange blossoms are
also indispensable. The Indians or Mexico and
Central America hold them in the highest esteem.
The peristeria eata dove nower), pure white
OF dove with half expanded wings inside the
lower very fragrant and held IN great reverence by
the people OF Central America, under the name OF
santua spiruta. The oncedium papio or butterfly
Hover Is also choice gem In Spanish mariposa
the cattiegas OF Brazil and Venezuela are among
the showiest OF the family. The LGlia majaes flor
de majo OF Mexico Is what phaon IL said to get his
line perfume extracted from. The next grand and
msot useful nower Is the camelia japonica, IN all
its various colors White ones are used on all
sions and form groundwork OF all large flower
pieces for decorations tuberose is very desirable
hower for purity and fragrance, and much used at
funerals in forming wreaths, crosses, and other de-
signs. In connection with the camelia this using
white MOWERS for funerals has become SO extensively
In use within, may say ten years, that II forms
large item in the flower trade OF New York As much
as five hundred dollars, and sometimes more, are
used at one funeral where the family has large con-
necti0ns.
Church decorations at Easter and other saints
days make considerable trade The Catholics were
first IN decorating their churches, but now many de-
nominations follow the custom. Many gentlemen
use their own flowers from their country green
houses, and often order flowers from the florist not
having enough from their own places to supply their
penses OF their country places while living In town.
At New Year we are glad to purchase flowers from
anywhere to supply our orders Many come from
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Albany.
South OF New York Christmas Is the great holiday
by New Years they have generally some flowers TO
spare. The flower trade has made wonderful pro-
gress the past five years all the Eastern and
Middle States. The great American people have the
innate love for the beautiful and have the means to
enjoy It, The Southern states before the the
great garden OF FLOWERS. Every new and rare Towering
plant was purchased by the Southern ladies and
gardened with the greatest care and attention.
They still have the love but not the to crafty
SO laudable and beautiful an undertaking.
ISAAC BUCHANAN,
No. West Seventeenth street.