Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-24

fAK I'M AAC oChSAAC VI bdiAu
40 New York capitalists
to raise flowers in Flor
ida for Northern mar
kets is Just now agitsting land agents in the
peninsula, thrilling the souls of Yankee
bellies and striking terror to the hearts of
the Jersey and Long Island florists. The
idea is aesthetic, poetical and favors much
of the flower markets of Paris and New Or
leans. When the Goddess Flora concen-
trates the forces of her trust company in
Florida and makes the State an American
riviera, then may smiling maidens
and blooming matrons laugh in the
faces of Northern florists, while they
luxuriate in cheap, Sweet fresh Florida
roses;" but until then my lady fair may
glory in the price that gratifes her aesthetic
soul, and await the revolution that will
place the radiant bloom and citrine odors of
the orange, magnolia and jasmine within
the reach of every parlor and ballroom.
The idea is good one, but will it be prac-
ticable? The shortest possible time between
Northern cities and North Florida is Sc
hours, but going to the Southern country,
where success would more surely attend the
enterprise, on account of richer soil and
milder temperature, the average time, with
the attending breaks from the gardens of
Florida to the bathrooms of the North, could
not be less than 60 hours.
AN IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME.
Then, the only question to be considered
Is, would the delicate evanescent blooms
possess utility after such a journey? If so,
the scheme would be success, and we'll
NAV florists of our Eastern cities, as well as
of our great gas metropolis, grow green
with envy. New York papers, that are aid
ing the scheme, say:
Apart from the usual proofs of common
sense, no clearer evidence of how much
Northern florists fear this usurpation of
their rights is needed than is in their touch
iness upon the subject"
Butthe bland gentlemen who cater to the
satisfaction of 9stheticism at the rate of 81
and 81 per rose during the wintry months
may eat drink and be merry, for neither
this year nor next will Florida roses, pinks
and sweet scented violets sell Cheap in
Northern cities. The expense of trans
portation, gardening, commission fees, con-
tention with the elements that prove fatal
in Florida, and, as often as elsewhere, the
daily demand at good prices for flowers by
State, all work together to the advantage of
the Yankee florists, and when the idea of
cheap" flowers cannot be carried
out the scheme must prove a failure.
If the Florida orange has revolutionized
the orange business, as is claimed by certain
capitalists, it is at the expense of the orange
producer, and while the cry of the Vender,
Sweet Florida oranges, only 10 cents per
dozen," resounds throughout the broad
Il, u
orange epIcUre knows the difference between
oranges labeled Florida at 10 cents per
dozen, and commission house Indian
Rivers and pays the extra price.
THE HOME OF THE ROSE.
So with Florida flowers; if they can be
utilized in Yankeedom, with their beauty,
fragrance and aroma of tropical romance,
they will sell themselves and at fair prices
With our American labor system, American
monopolies and American extravaeance.
the idea of "cheap" flowers among Nam
monltes is in the dreamy future. The same
success that attends the flower gardens of
the Riviera and the flower markets of Paris
might be explained in Florida, were it not
that the American tourist is so lavish in his
expenditure of money, and pays the price
whether 1t be extravagant or not. So, until
flower trust is formed, the price of Florida
blossoms, whether they be sold in Northern
or Southern markets. will be Influenced by
surroundings and demands. Already the
idea is growing in Florida, and gardeners
ship to the leading hotels, but not at French
prices.
Florida is land of delicious lights and
floating shades-a veritabie fragrant elvs-
ium-the beautiful, sunny holiday grounds
of the Union. 1t is eminently a land of
hotels, the winter sanitarium and social
paradise of America, and with its match
less cline and witehing, spicy sunlight, is
the mecca for the wealthy of the North, and
1t is only fortunes favorites that winter
here. Florida has been the fabled land of
flowers since Ponce de Icons discovery.
but we must remember. by the old Span
iard's almanac, it was in the budding month
of April that he saw the land, when fragrant
wild flowers and soft Young foliage were
bursting into glorious bloom.
DIsAPPoNTING DISCOVERIES.
Most persons come here expecting to see
rank luxuriant exotics, roses in profusion,
vines swinging and swaying with the
breezes, and are quite disappointed when
they see the floral display less proiuse and
brilliant than their imagination pictured.
They forget that, like the North, the South
has also its seasons. Spring is the time of
bursting buds, the time when the mag
nolia and the jasmine, which have a beauty
as distinct and delicate as Mendelssohnis
t'Songs Without Words, are in luxuriant
bloom, but as evanescent as child's dream
of the star.
Some writer has called Florida the vesti-
buled train hitched on to paradise, and the
tourist that visits the Peninsula now could
easily be persuaded to believe that he is,
too, in the conservatory of Flora's do
main. Roses, and such roses-Marechal
Neil, Bennet, La France, ,..etc.-are bloom
ing proiusely. We might think that
Florida is the home of the rose, so luxuri-
antly does it grow here, being cultivated
on almost any soil and at any point;
blooming constantly except through the
season of frosts. But oh! there's the rub,
and point against supplying Northern
markets during the season when flowers
would be in greatest demand. When this
season will strike terror to the hearts of
gardeners cannot be predicted. 1t may be
any month from November to March, le-
pending entirely upon the frequency and
seasons of old Manitoba's carnival of biz
yards and cyclones.
HARD SEASON FOR FLOWERS.
So, for the sins of Manitoba, Florida, like
petted beauty, is coouettish and treaeher-
Gus, and, while she is springing into promi-
nence Minerva-like, with all the complete
ness of an older country, many trying Or
deals are passed through by those brave |
enough to experiment in a new untried land. |
One season frosts cut down delicate vegeta- |
tion, and gardeners, after weeks of labor, |
must replant. Another season drought |
lays waste the winters work. |
This winter unparalleled rains have |
discouraged the strongest faith, and |
acres OF vegetables almost ready for mar
ket, farms of cane, banana plantations,
fields of tube robes. Gala lilies, ETC., are |
under water. This is experienced only in
certain districts, particularly in the rich |