National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-01
FRAGRANT FLOWERS.
THE FLORISTS OF WASHINGTON.
visit to Some Of the Most Prominent Artists in
Interesting Facts as TO the
Extent Of Floral Decorations
NJ Entertainments.

In no city IN this country, aud probably in the
world, Of it size, is the passion for flowers and
noral decoration and ornameutation so universal
or INDUCED in to so large an extent as IN
Washington During what is called the
season the number Of entertainments of
social nature can hardly be estimated,
aud all Of these are graccd by fragrant f'" 'rs,
Atdinncrs, lat homes germans, musicales, ryuep-
tions, and all the various forms OF entertainment
nOral ornamcntalion forms an important feature,
and the bouquets, baskets, boutonnieres, and
elabontcly designed pieces are In accordance with
the wealth aud the taste Of the givcr Of therner.
toiumunt, Probably the occasion which called
forth
MOST Extensive FLORAL DISPLAY
during the past yCnrwHs the reception TO the
French and German visitors, which took place at
Wormlcy's last fall, when, although at that time
flower, were cheap the bill for them rgnched an
amount that would have Kept small family for |
u year The love aud desire for flowers are the
strongest evidences of cultivation and refinement
ior u is only umuug civilized people that @ny At
teutiou Is pud to tuyIH cultivation or use The ABB
urgiuus Of ,is uig lHud have no conception of |
the beautiful, and even when mn attempt iSmadG
drndgery Of lie and are not attracted by the
beauty or fragrance Of flowers This is the case Nt
the schools where the indian boys ana grls arc
educated by the Government The former acquire
the use OF agricultural implements ana learn Ger.
tain trades, and The latter become inmiliar with
households duties and the palmer kinds oincede-
WORK, but even the girls have
so THOUGHT or CARE FOR FLOWERS
either to cultivate them or to admire their beauty
aud exquisite 0doL In no city of its size are
there SO many dealers In howcrs rs IN washing.
ton. The directory shows about forty firms under
the head Of florists, not counting those who are
chased us nuiscrymcn. The fact that so
many are engaged in the business of the
culture ana Arrangement OF flowers shows
5he great demand for ne products products OF t9eir
alton the various rordens about the Department
buildings, nor the Butanica and Agricultural pro-
1 ..Etl lfa 1ana
steadily Increased year after year, aud during the
past season 80 has far exceeded anyrhing hereto
ir-thctrl,ln, Mr. Oscar Wilde who sees especial
beauty not only In the lily and The sunAowcr but
in the tiuicsi flower that grows IN wildwood lux
nriuncc, may have had some influence uron the
Increase. At any rate the Wsthctic lawmakers
who can furnish their sisters and their cousins
and their nunts with bouquctsby
SIMPLY wIuTiSG AN ORDER on SMITH
have been more than usually importunate in their
requests for these dainty evidences of refined
tastes The amount of money invested In the
cultivation Of flowers Is iCr greater than Is usually
supposed, and one of the leading florist firms,
Ncssrs. John Small x Sons has recently purChased
hlly acres Of ground Just north of the grounds OF
the National Fair Association, which they will use
entirely In the cultivation Of flowers. This tract Of
ground constituted what was known us the Rich
Horticulture, sloping gentyto the SOUTH where 1t
Cun receive the most favorable sun. 1t intended
10 erect about twenty or thirty green houses on
the place, and pay particular attention to the
growing Of
THE FINEST VARIETIES OF ROSES
When 1t is stated that It costs on an average
about $500 to CreCta green house some idea of the
money which will be invested in this enterprise.
Iuny bC had. John saul l. nnOthe florist whose CX-
teusiyc grounds, stretching from seventh to -Four.
tcrnth streets opposite the Schuet2er Park, attract
those who drive 10 the soldiers Home and who
does not conHnc himself to towers for cutting
but who iuushes seeds and bulbs Of almost
rows. saul is probably The Oldest Noris
as as ssentac asitHi gardner is wv Wen Known Mentor
has been made OF the amount Of money expended
for flowers, and some estimate may be formed o
the extent of expenditure when ,it is stated tha
some of the florists do business Of S2,OO0pc week
= REruBuCAN reporter dropped into the ost0b
lshmenI OF
NIssRs. JouS ~. SMALL 4 SONS,
Rud found the junior members of the firm
busily engaged in evolving new and beautiful de
signs ont of rich and fragrant flowers In n con
Nersation which cnsuel they said The design
that have been most generally used this season TO
breakfast, lunch and dinner parties were Giihe
CuisHgc and hand bouquets or else baskets oidiier
cnt styles, forming one large centre piece 70
The table. These bouquets and baskets range IL
Price from fifty cents 10 ten dollars each many o
the centre pieces for table where from eight Il
twelve sit down costing from fifty to one hundred
dollars: One OF the novelties of the season !
tying large bows and stroamers Of the fines
ribbon to these bouquets Gud baskets the ribbon
being Of the same sLude 9s the principal howeTs
Etreamcr would be jacutiuminot ribbon Fo
dinners, baskets made entirely of ferns, tulips, ant
other spring flowers have been much affected thi
princi ipay roses lilies Of the valley viOus, carna
lions, jonquils, nalcissus, ilucs panSics, maiden
hair fern, and smiinN. The finest and most cN
pcnsiyc are the jacqucminot, ,Cornelia Cook, an
Catherine Mcrnet roses, the latter having mad
l. appearance this season and
BEING VERY FASHIONABLE.
These range In price during the season from fin
cents to $3.50 per bud. on big flower days we us
from 1900 to 1000 roses 5000 TO 1000 vi9lets 50
lilies of the valley, 900 5000 strands of smlaS
and large quantities Of carnations, tulips, an
other flowers, German nights, the evening
when the Army and Navy and bachelors Civ
their germans, are always big days with u
Every gentleman who invites II ludy to accom-
pany him sends her bouquet, which costs Il
of the Washington florists are the lobbyists Gn
seekers ailer high official preermcnL They u'
flowers layishIy IN various quarters TS to igr!h,
ment to take breath The reporter gently sul
gestcd that possibly he could tell of
soME FLoWEEs SENT SUB ROSA
that might prove interesting, "Well," said h
"that would be betrayal of confidence th
would hardly do Early this season, when jat
quninut roses were scarce and were selling
81 apiece, Il gentleman came in here and bOugl
several dozen of them They were tor n partcl
lar purpose The prices sometimes paid for hanc
some baskets aud bouquets for presents are We
high. A gentleman, who shall be nHmclcss, Sc
bouquet dc corNaEe to a ladyto wear az an ever
ing party recently which Cost $50; another one,
basket containing nothing but jacqncmnot rose
spoilt u best part Of Il hundred dollar bill, M
several Others, nearly as expensive, have bee
made. Flowers, like everything else, are gOycrnC
by fashion More flowers have been used this YET
for decorations than ever before and there is |
doubt that
NEXT SEASON STILL MORE WILL BE USED.
The designs vary greatly and depend, to Certa
extent, on the taste of the hostess. Many ladi
will tell the florist how they think Il room OF
table should bG decorated. Then there Is nnoth
branch OF our business, not quite so festive as Il
other, but great ana growing onei that is funer
work. Funeral work has much improved
style and quantity over former years, the d
signs being OF igreater artistic excellence III
emblems used Hre mostly disabled ships brokt
Ii1,lF nd ghlt mn yuta m a D.
scyhes setting suns, hour-glasses, and maj
Others of appropriate character. For this class
work we use only white flowers, smilaX and vi
lets, or inmorleiles; Designs IN IVY leaves ai
wheat are also much used IL Is noticed that
every large funeral the floral work Is more cost
and exceeds greater proportions than at the last
Then Il LroI was taken overto
LOUIS BAlLLIEuN's GREES HOUSE,
on Connecticut avenue and \ street. to hear VIII
the proprietor had to say about fair Florus d
mains, Mr., BailiicuX supplies the British leg
ton With most of the flowers they use. lie dec
rated the liable very handsomely for three Cnte
tuiumCnts that Minister West gave last season I
one occasion in the centre of the table was lars
damUnd-shRpcd basket, composed almost excl
Biyely of White cumcllius, roses, heliotrope earn
tiOn links, and other choice flowers, nt eth
point o. the diamond being floral hearts, 4
eject WAS very pretty. " ! have done more in bl
Eets than bOuquls,' said Mr. BalllicuX and mt
funeral work than anything else. The desig
have been crowns, wrenihs, crosses, pillu
anchors, and pillows, made Ui white roses, pin
carnations, lubr.TOsus, Yiulvts, ana immUltCll
This has been good year for lilies. We have
ready booked several orders for CRllR-lilips
Faster sunday Then the rcpOrorhcd himself
TIIE CREENHolsE OF WILLIAM COLEMAN,
1919 New York avenue aud proceeded TO "wOr
Jhe aforesaid william, Nj Colem0n's business
principally in cut flowers, baskets hand buuqul
and bouquets dc corsage' The huwers prnclpN
used uTe roses Ia all their different varieties su
IN mink. " La lmuuu.' in white, the tOrup