The herald., 1895-12-01

pierced by toothpicks to hold them in
place, and when the collection of rem
nants was closely massed their general
effect was SO satisfactory that the Gus
toner, upon receiving the basket, was
pleased and complim entary.
1t is little detail of business not gen.
orally known that the freshest roses ever
obtainable in New York have been cut
from eighteen to twenty-sx hours before
they reach this market. We're they sent
IN by tine grower Immediately after cut
tlg, they would be wilted and their beau
ty gone before they could reach the city.
To make them last 1t is requisite that
they pass a night in temperature of 40
degrees Fahrenheit. That braces them up
to die slowly.
Each variety OF rose has its own time
and manner of opening. Some, like the
Madame Cusln, reach certain point of
development and retain it all day long,
while others make such haste to Gaunt
their petals that if left on the bush for
hall an hour after they are just right for
cutting they will become worthless. The
Meteors are cut twice a day, their devel-
opment being very uniform and gradual,
while American Beauties are taken from
the bush before CLOCK in sum mer morn
ings and two or three hours later in win
ter. The finest roses, such as extras, are
carefully wrapped singly i'll tissue paper
otlOIt DuJ the OlDeTS are 81 m DIV
laid straight III neSted trays OF boxes,
so as 70 minimize the pressure upon
them, and all are sent in to the city by
the earliest practicable means of convey
ance III the cool OF the morning
Carnations rank next to importance to
roses in the cut flower trade OF New
York, as is shown by the enormous num-
Der OF IL, 900, 600 sold here last year. 1t is
quite possible that some PROMOTION OF
these went to other cities for there is a
demand for New York carnations all over
the country. Generally that demand is
met by direct shipments from the grow
ers, but some no doubt went ont from the
commission men also. There are probably
200 florists growing carnations for the
New York market, but only about twenty
or twenty-five of these are specialists,
cultivatlng practically nothing else.
Few flowers bear shipment so well as
carnations, or last so long In good condi-
ton after cutting, even when exposed
under conditions that would make short
work of roses. In the winter they are
constantly sent by local growers TO
Washington, Chicago ana have been re-
ceived i'll perfect condition as far away
as Atlanta and Florida. Their successful
cultivation involves no fewer difficulties
than rose growing, requires quite as much
exact knowledge, Skill and care, and is
perhaps even more risky owing to the
ever.threatening possibility of fungoid
disease breaking out among the plants.
The best prices the carnation grower gets
he honestly earns.
Niolets rank third in Importance in the
cut flower supply of New York. This is
conceded by all tire fioriculturlsts, but il
seems To be practically impossible, as the
business is now conducted, to obtain
even an approximate estimate of how
many are sold. The best authorities
guess at IL, 900, 900, as New York's annual
consumption OF violets.
the greatest growers are in the neigh
borhoou OF Nyack, Rhinebeck and
Poughkeepsie, but vast quantities are pro
ducec by small lighthouses in all direc.
tions about New York, some of them in
the hands of individuals not known Ii
the trade. Violets tiuctuate in price from
IS cents to 50 or 81 a hundred according
to their scarcity and the demand ioI
them. There IS hardly any choice among
them, except ir the matter of freshness
The only variety worth growing for the
market is the Marie Louise, good dark
blue with a reasonably long stem. LIgh,
blue violets, though they may be as frag-
rant, are not SO saleable as dark ones