New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-21
SELLING FLOWERS In NETWORK.

II an accurate census of the plant vendors
throughout the city could be taken, together with
the statistics of the business during the month Of
May the figures would be surprising. spring IN
New York il such brief season that this trade lot
the entire year is crowded INTO few weeks ana the
florists in this neghbOrhOOd Will dispose OF ten or
twelve millions of growing plants before lh9 nIsl
of June he plants which are seen III the ,markeI
stalls the corner groceries, on the sidewalks anu
wherever else chance lot can be dlsposeu OF are re-
newed every morning by fresh supplies from Clln-
ton Market which Is the center OF the trade IN pot
MANS The amount of business here IL not so large
as II was Il few years ago, owing TO the TACT that
small growers have established themselves III every
suburban town for the direct supply OF near Gus
TONERS Nevertheless on every fine morning as
many as a hundred wagons from New Jersey, Long
Island Staten Island, and elsewh here unload Their
floral treasures about the square al tHe lOot OI
Canal-St. These wagons are each frelghted with
from 200 to 1000 plants and a good mornings sale
will amount to $4,000 or $4,000.
Besides the plants bought by local vendors LOT
CITY wards and balconies and window sills, many
more taken Oh speculation by dealers who trans
no business regulations to make or lose the plants
must recommend themselves They are therefore
older and larger than those offered at the Cort-
landt-st auction sales and they sold in the large
pots where they have been grown. The roses,
calais fuchSias geTanuIns, camelas p2nsleS VOiels
hchOtrOpe, cape Jessamlne, hydrangeas, STOCKS ana
lilies are all in bloom and the plants valued for
foliage like cOleus begOnias, and ferns, are at their
best that the display at the market III the gray
Of the dawn is said 10 be worth sitting up all night
10 witness and there are enthusiasts who Will tes-
tfy that the exhibition has repaid them for endur-
ing tue OF early rising III Is not INC ldult VI
the growers that their caas and lilies and hybrid
perpetual roses will never bloom again. If buyers
will I've satisfied only with plants IN Hover they
should know enough to select varieties which bloom
oftener than once year. 1t is a misfortune that
this peculiar kind of demand encourages florists tC
force their stock into a sudden and succulent
growth so that about nine-tenths OF the plants sold
before Nav inevitably perish. the hardy stun
from cold frames like pansies. daisies and cowsllps
alone being proof against the sudden chiiis which
must be Encountered. But it Is by failures that
practical knowledge of Horticulture is gained, and
wear by year as the demand increases 1t Is noted
that buyers make a more intelligent selection OF
varieties and of individual specimens.
Perhaps ID is too much TO hope that the noIal
adornments of New YORK streets will ever equal
those of European cities where the climate IS more
kind. Even IN the poorer quarters OF Paris The
decorations of the windows and pOrches on holidays
are made with a taste that is almost taultless.
New York has 10 street color to match the blue OF
London lobelias or the gold of London cace olaras
But every year the crowded parts of this city are
breaking into richer bloom. The window boxes
on Murray Hill in charge of professional garden
ers and can hardly be improved. But the sup
plies from Clinton Market reach the tenement
houses where ten-cent scarlet geranium VIII
exercise genter influence than ten-dolar Croton
can in a more aristOcratic soil. The corner flower
stand no doubt exerts purifying and tranqullzlns
influence which its owner does not dream OF.