St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-22

storage, thus retarding 1t any length Of
time beyond its proper season, and
valley" as the florists call it, may be
had almost the year round. To force
| this plant the roots are placed in clear
sand, in high temperature, with album
dant moisture. The flowers are pro-
duced in twenty-one to twenty-eigltt
days. The best lily of the valley bulbs,
or ''pips," as they are called in the
trade, come from Germany and Russia.
Other popular Dubious flowers ARE
Easter lilies, the bulbs being imported
rsfrom Bermuda or Japan, and Dutch
bulbs, which include tulips, hyacinths
daHodils. These are all imported from
Holland, and though they could doubt
less be raised in the United States 1t
would be Impossible to compete with
the cheap labor, chiefly female, of the
Dutch bulb farms. These all required
DIFFERENT TREATMENT o.
from the lily of the valley; they must
be ported in the fall kept cold and en-
couraged to make good roots before
the flowers are forced. Then there are
pansies. mignonette, sweet peas, Paris
dalsles, forget-me-nots, chrysanthe-
NUNS and host of other flowers, few
OF Whlcn, however, are grown by the
rose and carnation specialists, though
some force sweet peas in their carna-
ton houses in the spring.
Cut flowers are usually shipped by the
growers to commission men who deal
IN nothing else. a few growers retail
their own stock, but few sell at whole
sale direct without the aid of the com
mission dealer. A large part of the
with commodious ice boxes, in which
the stock is stored until sold. Prices
fuctuate in accordance with the supply.
and change very rapidly, not only on
account of the perishable nature of The
goods, but also through changes in The
weather. In most markets flowers are
carefully graded; in roses length of
stem has as much to do with the grade
as perfection of bloom. The commits
sion men really set the prices, but the
growers are so scattered and business
is governed by so many peculiarities
that a flower" trust is an utter i'm
possibility.
The retailers proper-those having a
store, but buying their stock instead of
growing it-represent a third class
quite distinct from both growers and
commission dealers. Very few of them
are practical growers, but they are
keen judges of flowers and 5romp4 in
picking out the specialties that Will
appeal to their trade. Owing to the
perishable nature of their stock they
are compelled TO buy very caref lily,
and there is always such a loss from
waStage that a large increase over
wholesale prices leaves but d narrow
margin OF profit. Their regular custom
ers, especially among wealthy people,
always expect long credit, and this re-
acts on the grower and dealer.
The retail business has seen many
changes, of late years, not the least Of
these being the gradual disappearance
of stiff and formal funeral e-1blems
and the more natural arrangement of
flowers, on their own stems, in baskets
and bouquets. Where one gates
ajar,'' or similar atrocity is made now,
a dozen We've made five years ago.
Loose punches or graceful wreaths,
without lettering, now lead among peo-
pie of taste, though at times it is diff
cult to persuade customers that scre-
thing exec edingly enbler1atic is not
desirable. One city florist was obliged
to make three steps covered with stair
carpet, on which were laid a tack
hammer and carpet stretcher, all in
flowers 1t was for the funeral of a
departed carpet-layeT, and his sorrow
ing widow said it was so appropriate.
AS another example, q lamb in white
roses, with the word Rest on one
side of the base and Peace" on the
other, was ordered for the funeral Of
a prominent tough who was killed with
a beer glass in a saloon fight.