Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02
vIOLETs, ORCHIDS AND ROSES.
They are the Flowers of the Season,
and Some Of Them Very Expensive.
MAGMA CHARTA ROSES AT DOLLAR AND HALF
EACH AND QUEER-LooKISG ORCHIDS WORTH
MORE THAN THEIR WEIGHT IN GoLp-oossIf
OF THE GREENHOUSE.

Three big pots Of cut roses looking much
out Of place in the rough surroundings, stood
on the floor Of the cold box at leading florists
last evening. They were on view for the
benefit OF STAR reporter. These are about
the latest novelties we have in roses" the
florist said. None of them are really new.
They have been brought into vogue again
among fashionable people by the steady demand
for novelties in flowers. People get tired of
the most beautiful roses after they have
been in favor for a couple of seasons, and
then We have to bring back some of the dis
carded favorites of years ago. Just as dress
makers and miiliners do in gown and bonnet
styles. This, be continued, touching gently
a bunch of big roses. whose soft, rich red
colorlng struck the eye with an effect some
what similar to that produced on the ear by
the full, deep tones of great cOntralto, lis
the Magma Charta rose, very rare and expen-
sive, and just now the pet of fashionable peo-
pie who are rich enough to indulge their tastes
for such luxuries. II is impossible to get them
IN any quantities. as their season is short and
they are not prolific boomers. The Magma
Charta has probably been out twenty or twenty
five years. 1t came back into favor among
fashionable people a couple of seasons ago.
and this winter there is demand for it greater
| than We can supply"
What do they sell for?" inquired the re-
porter. who had been devouring the magnif-
| cent buds with his eyes and had finally made
up his mind to have one of them even If 1t
cost a quarter.
NOT FOR THE POOR.
These are the pick of all we had" the florist
said, as he again affectionately placed his hand
beside the bunch of seepy-looking beauties,
land they are worth one dollar and a half
apiece. Poorer buds we sell as low as fifty
cents"
The reporters quarter dropped back in his
pocket, and he took his eyes off the Magma
Chartas for fear he would wither the precious
things, while the florist proceeded in calm I'M
consciousness of the chilling effect of his last
words. to explain the other exhibits. These
pale pink roses are the Gabrielle Luziet," he
resumed, land these, which appear almost
white at a short distance. but are really a white
pink, are the Baroness Rothschild They are all
scarce varieties. and are about the latest novel;
ties we have in roses. The standard favorites
still hold their own. American Beauties
jacques. Bon Silenes, and Marechal Neils
always have good sale. The Puritan has died
out almost entirely. 1t was not perfect rose.
1t was only doomed by those interested in get
ting it before the trade
What other flowers are in special favor this
season! the reporter asked.
CORNER IN MARaUERIrEs.
'These Paris daisies, or Marguerites, are
used more and more in decoration" said the
man of flowers, pointing to several pots of the
growing plants in the room. You see they
differ from our ordinary field daisy in having
a much smaller yellow center and being gem
orally more delicate looking. They were made
very fashionable in New York about five years
ago by swell society man in search of some
thing exclusive in the way of flowers. He got
hold of a florist who had the only bush of Mar
guerltes IN America at the time and contracted
for every flower of them for the whole season.
In that way he made sure of having the Mar
guerites identified exclusively with himself for
the entire season, and made the fortune of the
flower from that on.
VIOLET SEASON.
"But, after all, / think this will deserve to be
called violet season." the florist resumed after
pause. Last year We sold close up to a mil
hon violets, and from the way in which they
are going this season We will probably dispose
OF a far larger number before it ends We sup
piled over $500 to single customer the other
night as fayors for german. The growing
custom of giving flowers as favors at germans
is a good thing for us, and hope it will con-
tinue."
BIG PRICES FOR RARE ORCHIDS
"Orchids are coming into more general use,
aren't they?" the reporter inquired.
81 was about to say that the orchid is really
the newest thing in our trade" the florist an
swered. Last year we had a limited demand
until this season. Here are some specimens"
and the florist brought out two pots with few
sprays of odd-looking flowers in them. .'rhose
are worth 80" he continued, indicating one
pot which contained half dozen small SPRAYS.
They range In price from 25 cents to So
flower. For a lunch given early in the week
we supplied twenty orchid flowers, for which
we charged 81 piece. They were the scarlet
antherium. The flower consisted of an oval disc
of brilliant scarlet from the center of which a
Vail Axnara
odd looking. 1t was the first time to nv knowi-
edge. the flower was used in Washington, and
on account of its expense. it will probably be
some time before it is used here again.
LITTLE PROFIT IN HIGH-PRICED FLOWERS
Il suppose there must be big profit in hand
ling flowers of such rarity" The STAR man
remarked.
That seems to be the common supposition,"
was the answer, but it is wrong. II II charge
$50 for bouquet of orchids. people seem to
think $40 of it is clear profit to me- The real
fact Is We make less on these very high-prced
flowers than we do on selling bon silene roses
at a couple OF dollars Dozen"
where do you get your supply of orchids?"
the interviewer asked.
"Well, we have begun to raise a few our-
selves, but most of them come fron a number
of large private collections in New York, New
Jersey and near Boston. A number of rich
men in this country have invested sums ranging
from $1,000 to 100000 in orchids within the
last few years. Their greenhouses are at their
summer residences in the country, and during
the winter their gardeners dispose of the blooms
to florists in New York and other large cities.
Here is something that has been a great
aid to us in artistic floral decoration" the for
LIST continued, taking up feathery spray of as
paragus, which swayed gently up and down,
as If bowling its thanks for the compliment.
THE beauty of bunch of roses is enhanced
fifty per cent when few delicate sprigs of this
peeps out here and there between them and
finish off the edges. Then for festooning
rooms and decorating tables nothing is more
useful or effective. There are two kinds of il
the teauissiBd and the pt,lnOsa The former
is the coarser and sitter kind It has been in
use for several seasons. The plun,osa is more
soft and feathery, and has only recently been
introduced. 1t is very rare and hard to get. as
it cannot be propagated from cuttings as the
te7su,ssinld can"
FLORAL DECORATIONS FOB THE TABLE.
In answer to an inquiry regarding the favor
lite methods Of table decoration this winter the
flower man Said "The tendency now is away
from the old set pieces in the center of the
table. Taste seems to run to looser and less
formal styles of decoration. great MANY
wealthy people now like to make a fine display
of cut glass and solid silver on their tables and
I'LL big vessels of these materials with great
bundles OF roses or other cut flowers. Then
loose buds, interspersed with sprays of
feathery asparagus or smilax, are scattered
about the cloth. avoiding any appearance of
design. The effect is very elegant and strik-
IL