New-York tribune., 1881-12-27
HOLIDAY FLOWERS.
CHOICE VARIETIES SCARCE AND DEAR.

| CHOICE VARIETIES SCARCE AND DEAR.
TIE GRowrNG TASTE OF BUYERS AND THE SUPERIOR
| QUALITY OF TIE MAEXET-THE SCARCITY
CAUSED BY THE DRY SUMMER.
The flower trade of thc city is always active dur
ing a season of fcstivity since the practice oi
decorating with cut flowers aud living plants mas
! become firmly established. New Years ana EaStFr
| are the two davs in the year when the demand lor
| fragrance and bloom is the heaviest, and pfep'-
| rations for these occasions by loIcIns
and restraining natural growth 80 tha'
their perishable material can be had in abundance
and at IFS best on these particular days are mace on
the most elaborate sea by producers and dealers
J The demand during holiday week IS always Dn'N'
| and this year is exception. But Ho"eIS arc
scarce and dear as result of the exceptionally
! dry summer. Next to roses carnations arc
| tho great staple in this market Dut lhiS
years crop was half DESTROYED. During
the marching drouth the plants not only made little
| growth but they became enteebled so that uh'er
the most favorable conditions in autumn the pro-
duction would have been small. But when the
| warm rains came they started INTO rapid tropical
| rrowth 40 that the first early frost, which was
sudden and severe one. found them nnn'ullY Silc-
| culcnt and tender The result was a sweeping
dcstrucfion and n y yhors7le rri~e which viii reach
50 a hundred. three or four times ther NalHe III
! favorable SEASONS. III
uGTiIal
nat,ira lv increase the price OF her flowers, even
+ they we're as abundant as usual but Other plants
! besides carnations are scarce. Nltlcts Sihoru -
! riouslv from drOuth and mIdew, ana ar' ragCrN
! sought for at double their ordinary price Inc
| roses known as fancy" OF which the flCh
| crimson Jacqucminot Is a type can haruy
be obtained in any quantity. These roses belong 10
! thc class known ms hybrid perpetual" they are
| hardy and practically bloom only once year-ln
durc an artificial winter by drying of the plants IN
SIMMER At one time they actually itoze or chlIiSu
them to produce he winter effect. October - the
in which the growth l. again started LOT
hothousp forc later in the season. This year the
October temperature was 80 much above the average
| that the young shoots ran blind that iS'
! sn that sIowcrs can readily sell 100 Jacqueminot
| buds for 500 One result OF TINS extraordinary
state Of he market is that certain ola uoFal iaN +
| ties which have been OF late years hrgIcctch arc
| again coming into fashion. his Is es-
| uccally true of the cameIlia, which was once
! e.torrcd most highly. IL Is u cold, formal ana
iclIy regular flower, and for years has been
| unduly sighted Many camclias, whit" and co.orcd'
are now sold ~ good prices giiholEn ihey arc are
" the rage" The daisy crlz" Is ahatmg
somewhat. but the French Marguerite, which can
hardly bc distinguished from the oN-gyed daisy ana
the yellow vanity known As Etolc dor are SIM IN
brisk demand. PoinscttiaS with their broad bractS
of flaming ycrmiliou, snow-W into Roman j, ,acilha
and narcI,us and other flowers which belong cs-
pccia ly the season, are abundant and ol excel
The time has gone by when one rose was as good
/
educated to appreciate the special value of each.
Bu,cr, know what they want and are wiling 10 pay
for the best Persons OF luxurious tastes are wiling
10 DAY for rarity aS well az lOr brdutN. Ne" Va
T.cilcs o. roses and common flower, ont OF season,
like tulips at Chrsinas-udc, iof example. CONF
mand cNirayaglut prces. The same Intelligence
and iii crIuiuatiOl are used by persons VINO Hci'c
plants IN pots for purp, srs # special decoration
The palms dracalna7. crotons. ferns, etc, which
thty demand are # thc rlr'St aud mo choice Va
ritic, Tins critical tastc Is % constant stuu-
u,us 10 PRODUCERS to improve thr quality o.
their stock. II pays 10 grow the hnrsi va
ueucs and grow them 10 perfection. As "a result
the flowers and plants ia the market to-day are Tar
superior IN every way 60 those toIud here dozen
wears ago aud Ncw-loIk al 40 distant day VIII DE-
iuluous among the flower markets of the Wcfd ioi
the excellent quality of the articles sold, II u
already Tor their abundance.