New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
THE CUT FLOWER MARKET.
SCENES AT THE TwENTY-THfRD' ST ROOMS
WHERE THE GROWERS DISPOSE or
THEIR BLOOMS.

SCENES AT THE TWENTY THIRD ST ROOMS
WHERE THE GROWERS DrsPosE or
THEIR BLOOMS.
The New-York Cut Flower Market Twenty-th.rd.
St. lust west OF sxth-ave.. 10 a busy pace during
the morning hours. and particularly - on Mondays
ana Saturdays. This enterprise. which was started
September 2 is association OF most OF the
largest growers around NewYork for the purpose
OF selling their products directly 20 the retail nor
ists In the city. The business was formerly done
through commission men. ard the growers who have
thus organized TO do their selling believe that
their profits will be greatly increased by the pres
ent method Raising flowers for the New-York
trade IL an important industry in many OF the
reighborirg towns Flushing Queens and other
PAGES on Long Island have .argo hotnouses and
furnish part OF the supply. while still larger quinn
titles perhaps come from New-Je-sey. Madison
alone having about fifty different growers scar
borough " Y. is another town devoted largely 10
forfeiture
From o'clock in the morning at the new mar
ket when business begins. until about II there II
a constant stream Of buyers passing In ana ou''
and II is al the manager and his numerous a.
sistants can do attend 20 them. These customers
are Of course florists their clerks. and sidewalk
aower-dea,ers no retail business whatever oe'ng
ner-,l,ted Al the important florists In town have
standing orders which hed regularly eaeh
morning although representatives. from the oH'
fe-ent places are generally hand TO look out for
ANYTHING new or desirable. The smaller dea-erS
usually come in person and keep sharp watch FOR
good bargains. while the street-siand Keepers OF
whom nearly all Italians fairy haunt the place
q, all hours They are in search CO Job lots. and
will hang about during most Of the day II they
eurpect any possible chance OF securing tner mowers
at low price
The market occupies the entire second floor OF
the building which il divided by partition INTO
two rooms front and back. The 'front.' one racing
ON Twenty thlrd-st. is the general salesroom nav
ing in one corner the business office and CASHIERS
desk All around the walls arc long wooden
tables painted white, and there are seVerai mor'
Of these in the middle OF the floor Here in the
morning are placed quantities OF blossoms OF A.'
kinds which fast as they are bought UP anu
removed are renewed from the stockroom. Ins
shining white tables present "A pretty Sight ""e"
half-covered with smiax. feathery aspa'as"
greens and scattered punches o, rossj OF every
variety only 50 much is brought Out. however,
as Is likely to be sold within short Tune 'he
choicest flowers and those which are ordered u
advance being kept in the cold rooms unt needed
The LARGE room at the rear OF the partition
he place OF storage for all flowers as soon AZ
they arrive They come from the growers psche'
so closely in large fiat boxes that upon opening
one containing pink roses II presents the appear
snce of a solid mass OF color. The stems Of 'hs
flowers are all underneath and the blossoms laid
directly against one another so that no space -
wasted and they cannot be- injured py shahihs
about They are allowed to remain IN the boxes
and put Immediately into one OF the eight OF nine
refrfgerating rooms. which are in row at one
side OF the apartment. Upon opening the heavy
door of one OF these places and stepping In, the
sudden chill almost makes one SILVER but the 10"
temperature is good for the flowers. and they can
be kept fresh there Tor a remarkably long time
The main room Ike the in front is occupied
by tables which heaped with flowers ir mucn
greater profuson than outside. Only the regular
florists are allowed here TO look after their
orders but the Jerks often find 1t difficult 10 re-
pulse the impatient Italians who are afraid that
some bargain may escape their watchful eyes.
Every customer seems in most determined
hurry and each thinks Il rather unreasonable
that he or she cannot be waited upon before any
az the others Only one woman appeared 10 take
things phllosophlcally a busy day last week.
After severa. futile attempts TO get me man whl
rushing on to some else, she leaned against
the window seat and observed:
don't know OF a place where YOU can get what you
want in minute. and suppose this Is no worse
In speaking Of TIE varying grades Of the flowers
Charles Mlllang the assistant manager. SAID
We have really five grades altogether, dlstin-
gushed by the terms fancy extra. hrst. second,
ard third They assorted according to the general
quality freshness length OF stem. and on and OF
course there is scale of prices to M the different
by the florists. who must have flowers in good con-
dt;on. The Sidewalk men take care OF the see.
flowers people buy on the street seldom keep any
length OF time These men get tnefn mere very
cheap so that they make money on them even at
the low price they ask the stands
Mr. Millang says that one OF the mos popular
roses al present is the Meteor which has the
rich color OF a Jacquemrot. but is somewhat
smaller and has little Fragrance Us great advan,
,age is that II Is continually blooming rose and
can be supplied all the year. while the Jack" Is
limited a comparatively short season. Then the
American Beauty has lost any Of its popu-
larity and its royal size. color and sweet odor
make r. yartitable queen among roses The many
varieties OF tea roses, with their delicate tints
always sell we'll One OF the newer kinds Is called
tina
very full. and has rich pinkish-red color, which
shades from light TO dark.