Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-28
FORTUNE FOKA ROSE.
THE SUM or $4,000 PAID 'FoR TN
JOHN BENNETT STOCK
Some secrets Abeus shs rIswsss0rsweH.
Buslncss m Kichmond-A eSoe
Bouqust.

There are but few Of the thousands Of
people who daily pass the windows OF the
florists shops In this city and gaze upon
the wondrous display Of beautiful flowers
who have the faintest conception OF tins
amount OF labor. time. and capital m-
voived in producing these gems OF nature
for the market.
Fewer stiIl know anything Of the fabus
lous prices paid for the rarer sort OF cue
flowers during this holiday season, WHEN
the constant demands upon the grower
for flowers 10 be used as bouquets. fayors.
or in the matter of decoration, drive the
prices up the scale until the figures asked
would terrify any but those possessing
big bank accounts.
1t is a weil-known fact among the
florists Of this city that 10000 was paid
for the stock Of the John Bennett rose
by two weil-known American rose-grow~
ers, and despite the fact that the Benz
nett was In great favor among the beiie4
OF society In this city year or no ago, u
is now looked upon as little more than
worthless.
Fashion In flowers changes as rapidly
as IL does In the matter OF dress. sDame
Fashion" Is never satisfied. and her de-
mands for new and larger flowers leadS
the grower 10 duplicate the work OF
nature in producing the class Of "hybrids'
that are now so much sought for. and FOR
which such enormous prices are paid by
the swell set.
Swell young men are no longer content
with the plain flowers that their grand
sires wore in the dandy days" Thd
simple "nosegay" from the old house.
garden Is not sufficient to meet their de-
mands, and they now sport rare crchids
that cost as high as 81 apiece Id their
buttonholeg.
II Is matter Of record that society
belle OF this city expressed desire for
large corsage bouquet OF "Amsficau
Beauties'-a rose Of exceedingly beautiful
form. size. color. and fragrance--st a uins
when the demands upon the local ftcrists
| had exhausted the stock on hauc. AMI
| that her admirer paid out just 500 In teles
| grams to leading florists and for tha
| flowers, and expressage thereon before he
succeeded in obtaining them. though New
| York. Philadelphia, and Boston fiorists
were drawn upon.
But the lovely dame knew nothing OF
| this, and no one but the gallant who acted
| as her escort at the event for which the
| flowers were desired ever knew how
much the great bunch OF beautiful roses
that she wore that night had cost.
There Is not another place In Richmond
| that affords so pretty and interesting a
| sight as the interior OF the long rose
| houses out on the Brook road.
| In the early hours OF the morning, and
| again as the sun n setting. the "cutters'
| pass through these long glass houses, and
| the beautiful flowers drop into the big
| wicker baskets as the keen shears clip
| them from free from the parent plant.
| To grow these plants the gardener first
| chooses the hardest sort OF stock, and
| after clipping shoots OF several inches In
| length plants them in n long bench OF
damp sand that is kept by series OF
| steam-pipes at a uniform temperature.
| After the shoots have developed roots.
say in several weeks time. they are pot
ted and set aside 10 produce cut-iowep
stock.
Among the most popular roses al this
| time OF year are the american Beauty"
splendid red rose. which retails at s.
to s. per dozen: "The Bride" pure
| white rose. 81 TO 50 per dozen; Brides
| maid" n pink rose. 81 to 81 per dozen:
ia France" pink, 81 10 81: Madame
l ltstOul, plih, - w w. AhNA''st 'N'' y
to 81; "Perle des Jardne," yellow, 81 to S..
Among the sorts that were once popu-
I lar, but since discarded for the fashion,
able bouquet. are the Bennett" pride"
| "Marechal Neal" "Bon Siiere." Sunset
| Catherine Mcrmst." and Victoria
Carnations are exceedingly popular, and
| In the list OF popular flowers are the
"Daybreak. Edna Craig" "Helen kel.
| ler." "McGowan." "Ophelia." "SweeI
| Brier." "Wiiliam Scott" and "Albertina.'
The common class embraces quite a
number.
violets are hard to get at $ and 81 pei
hundred, and several OF the LEADING
florists state that they have orders fol
thousands OF these fragrant flowers that
they cannot fiji. and though they are
| telegraphing all over the country to sup
ply their holiday orders they are not
| accepting any money on these contracts
as they fear they cannot fili them. MAY
| Handy and Marie Louise are the lead
ers in this line.
Hyacinths and lilies Of the valley arr
plentiful and In great demand.
Easter lilies have been forced for deco
ratlve purposes, and these. along witt
Poinset:as, Arecaria Lutescens. CocoS
| Weddeiiama, Kentla Belmoreana, Arecaris
| Excelsa, AZalaas, Begon'a Rex. Orchids
Cycas. Revoluta. Narcissus. Primroses
| Jerusalem Cherry, Rosetti Orange, and tn,
standard L8tania Bourbonica, are used ir
fitting up for weddings. receptions, ant
parties.