New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-01
1HE CUT-FLOWER MARKET.
HOW NETWORK FLORISTS ARE SUP
Piled.
THE EXCHANGE ON THE EAST sIDE-EARLY
MORNING s-MosoUIToEs IN
MIDWI\TEli

MIDwINTEK.
1t may seem paradoxical to state that the cut
Hover market of New-York is far more beautiful
In the winter than in the summer. Nevertheless
the statement is true. 1t is because during the
winter and early spring months the demand for
flowers is greatest In this city.
That there Is such place as a regularly recog-
nized and duly Incorporated cut-fower market and
exchange is probably known to few and those
almost all OF them interested in the trade. The
exchange which has been in existence a little
more than two years. has the second floor of the
Long Island large house the south side OF
Thirtyfourth-st. and adjoining the East River
ferry house.
For long time the Long Island fower-growe
were in the habit OF congregating in the barrooms
and cafes that crowd the street near the ferry
house. Who 1t that originated the idea OF the
exchange is not certainly known. Tho first hint
Of it. however. met hearty approval Two rooms
were first hired ard papers for incorporation duly
drawn up well list OF regulations. From
the beginning the project has been an assured
success, and now. many OF the New-Jersey grow
ers have taken stands and send their flowers
town. it has been found necessary to rent
the whole second floor. which has an area OF about
10 by 10 feet. The large rooms have stalls running
all around the walls. Here are TO be seen large
heaps Of flowers in bundles, punches. sprays and
baskets. that disappear in an Incredibly short
time and are soon distributed among the $50 for
lists that are scattered all the city. Most OF
the having stands are the growers. but some
OF the larger commission merchants nave also
stands These can easily be picked out for they
have boxes behind their stands In which any
flowers not sold can be stored away until such
time az they are wanted The temperature In
these boxes kept near AZ degrees as possible
and by this means cut flowers can be kept fresh
for ten days or fortnight
The market opens at sunrise. and soon every
available spot has its load of flowers. ornamental
creoners grasses etc The large American Beauty
rose deep pink shaded with carmine always mas
a ready sale: and so have the light PINK baroness
Rothschild the Earl of DuTerin. with It's cluster
Of petals of vevety crimson. shaded with dark
maroon: Eugene Verder. with its silvery PINK
clusters: the crimson General Jacqueminot always
a favorite; the somewhat deposed La Refine: faui
Neyrons and Marshall p. Wilders. Then there are
the tea-scented roses. such as the 5rldc' pure
white; Papa Gontier. rose-colored; the white Ne
phetos and the fesh-colored Catherine Mermet
and that pretty blush rose Souvenir de la
Malmaison. The old favorites. too, such as tne
sweet scented Cloth OF Gold and Marechai Mel
Nesting cjose to the roses be seen baskets
with the equally scented single English variety
There lunches OF lily OF the valley as deca'ey
in some sheltered nook in the early spring Easter
lilies and punches OF Gala me a,er ,h bn
have orders for funeral flowers or church decora.
tion There are carnations OF every color ana JUST
heads from nearly every stand lunches or pan
soirea asters few danodils. dahias and hello
trope There are lunches OF fern and asparagus 10
help deck out the bouquets to be used later IN the
dav and yards and yards Of smilax.
IL is interesting. too in this exchange 10 watch tne
many people who crowd IT, The men have all their
lives been brought up among the silent Mowers ana
have learned to be silent themselves. There ~ no
CRYING out OF the prices. That Is all settled before
the marke. opens. and any change there may DC.
owing to a sudden order is at once known all over
the halls Those who come to buy are OF every STA
don The rich commission agent pushes to the the
front TO give his big orders and some OF the larger
florists can also he seen, but as rule these men
buy through their agents. The many florists mat
have their to the east and west or ltfoadway
south Of Twenty-third-st and north or rorty-sec,
ond-st are there every morning. Not Hover can
the casual visitor &c; in this exchange sales are
only made those In the trade, ana no norlst ~
allowed O present outsider a single bud
curious and the only unpleasant feature OF
this market the mosquitoes that even IN 'nin-
winter swarm in the restaurants and cafes on the
ground floor. MANY OF the men arrive with ther
flowers before the market IL opened and stow them
away all Of these houses. Inc
warmth OF the rooms matches numbers OF the little
pests and those that had sought shelter among the
petals and were half frozen TO death soon re-
cover and begin to get in their fine work with the
hungry and thirsty men. many OF whom have had
a long cold drive. This mosquito. too, Is cross
between the New-Jersey and Long Island species.
and like many crosses. has inherited the vices Of
both and the virtues Of neither.