Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29
TEE SCARCITY OF FLOWERS.
The Result of DrOuth and Frost.
blossoms Which Are EayOrites.
New Designs and Changing Taste.

We" Designs anu changing Tastes.
'You will have to be content with small
one;" said florist to a customer who had
ordered bouquet one day recently He had
probably made the remark number of times
within the last few weeks before this time,
when it was overheard by Tribune reporter
With the return of people from the country, and
the consequent increasing demand for flowers,
the florists have for some time had great diff
Guilty in keeping them supplied.
The present period is a barren one in the
nOwer gardens around the city, for the reason
that the dry weather. with frost for a climax,
has killed many of the plants not under grass,
while the stock in the greenhouses has not been
planted long enough TO yield many blossoms.
Growers. too. are apt to delay the blossoming
OF the plants at this season of the year by cut
ting back. in order that the flowers NAV be re-
tarded until about Christmas when high prices
are usually expected The distress of flower
gardeners. on account of the drouth, may be
Inferred from the experience of one grower in
New Jersey, who paid Sl5 day for water for
his plants. Dealers say that the trade has been
Hyelier than usual during the past summer. In
warm weather most of the patrons of the
florists leave the city: but there is apparently a
growing class, who appreciate flowers and can
afford them. who stay in the city good part
OF the warm season. To such persons a bouquet
of the seasons blossoms, often more highly
cOlOred and fragrant than the forced growth in
tHt II very pTdttiul Oh u nCG udy. Inc
demand during the fall months has also been
unusually good Theater-gOing. funerals,
weddings and other occasions contribute to the
demand.
1.-THE worst of it is" said florist, ''that we
cannot make any money out of this active mar
ket and scarce supply People expect to paw
high prices during the holiday season and after
II, but now they think they are being robbed if
we charge fair price, and they complain if a
bouquet is not as full and rich as at any other
how
to get stock from growers now, there is very
Gttle-margin for u.s.
The crop of yiolets has suffered especially from
drouth. many growers losing their entire stock:
when VIII pe unWeicome news TO the many adj
mirers of the modest blue blossoms I.ilies-of-
the-valicy have been much sought for also espe-
cially for weddings and have sold high on ae
count Of their scarcity. White carnations are
also scarce and in good request, as they can be
used in almost any design. The rose continues
her reign queen of floral favorites; and they
are used In all cOloTs and on all occasions be il
good taste or not, from weddings; o funerals
An uptown florist said on this subject: .sIthink
people are using too much color in some funeral
pieces There are plenty of quiet-toned flowers
like yellow roses, helotropes violets and daisies
to relieve the severe whiteneSs of funeral pieces
without putting in red roses which, if they
mean anything, are emblematic of love and hap
piness- III people use high cOlored flowers fOl
funerals, what is there left tor a man to give to
an actress or his lady-loye but these same
funeral flowers 2"
The finest roses, Cornelia Cook, Pearl de Jar
din Marechal Neil and Mermetto have been sell
Ing at 20 cents each. Fine tea roses are worth
OIL dozen. Jacquemnots are not yet plent
full enough to mention. Carnations are worth
cents each; hlies-of-the-yalley. p cents 1
spray. The large white blossoms OF the Es
charts ABadzOnicd are fayOrites, though not
plentiful. They are worth So cents a piece
The golden Alamandi blossoms are also very
seryiceabie where rich color is sought. Camel
las are not much grown now; and tuberoses
which few years ago were wanted in ever,
bouquet are now. either from their cheapnes,
their too seli-asserting odor, relegated to the
street vendors. Orange-blossoms will doubtless
be in demand as long as their fair wearers ar,
sought for in the matrimonial market. De
signs for bouquets are muitifarious. from slip
pers and umbrellas TO eornucopias and full
rugged ships.-N T. Tribune