The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-07
Largest Supply and Finest Specimens
Yet Seen Here.
VI0LETS IN GREAT PROPULSION.
a Devoted Beau Sends His Sweetheart
1900 OF the Sweet Things-Some-
thing About the Roses. Lilies
and Azaleas for the Season.

flowers during the festival The presence
Of Natures choicest handlwork every
where in church and home, in the centre
CT the dinner table. or nestled coZiIy upon
the bosoms Of Sweet maidens. makes an
hearts glad and brings tender smile OK
5mypathy and admiration 10 the lips OF
all who love the purity. fragrance ana
beauty OF these delicate blossoms.
FOR generations flowers have been more
freely used for decoration during Easter
than al any other time Ills a season
when the most beautiful and fragrant OF
all the floral gems flourish and break
forth i'm blossom that that seems TO sing
the praises Of the joyous Eastertlde.
There are more flowers available at this
time than at any other. Roses, mes
azaleas. carnations and V.olets are IN
abundance.
Ineir yelvety petals softly opened ana
burst forth into gorgeous beauty anu
frangrance during the past few days. he-
sponding to the careful nursing given
them by tho florists, and lifting their
faces as though wreathed In smiles during
the first part Of last week these sweet
messengers OF heaven itself came Ike
a soft whisper from an angels lips to give
beauty, grace, gentleness, fragrance
peace and good will TO men. and by thelr
presence they speak eloquent words OF
the happiness and 10y of the season when
thousands and millions Of souls unite
In a grand, heroic chorus Of praise.
"ris a beautiful thought, this close assoc
citation Of the purest and sweetest OF an
Gods creations with the celebration OF
the day upon which "The Lord hatn
Risen"
BEAUTIFUL SPECIMENS.
Not for many years has the supply OF
Easter flowers In Richmond been so large.
For several weeks the florists have been
hard al work trying 10 get their stock In
shape to meet the big demand which
promises TO be the largest ever known IN
this city. The result is that for the nrst
time IN years the floral people VIII DC
able to an the majority Of their ORDERS
II not all Of them.
Owing 20 the balmy weather during
most of the month Of March the flowers
budded out in profusion, and nearly All OF
the plants flourished beyond all expecta-
lions. This has been an unusually iaVot-
able year for Easter flowers. The supply
OF violets IS much larger than ever before
the roses are finely developed ana theF
stms handsomely shaped, while the car
nations. lilies. aZaleas, mignonette' sni-
lax. ferns and other specimens or the
floral kingdom are in great abundance
THE VIOLE1S.
OF course the ylOlets are always IN
great demand, and never more so than
al Easter These modest, dropping dos
SONS I'm all their purity and fragrance
appeal to the hearts OF matron and mald
alike perhaps more than any other now
err We love them because they are gen.
tie helpless, tender. pure. There Is
suggestion Of modesty, shyness, that a
violet always inspires. Its emblem, us
sweetness, its power TO recall past scenes
and experiences all make it dainty ht'ls
friend that creeps into ones heart ana
nestles to ones affections.
The florists have all realized these
facts. and they have as result arranged
20 have an immense supply Of violets this
year The blossoms were never pretuer'
never sweeter. They are almost perfectly
| developed. and their fragrance was never
more delicate. one florist told me that
his plants were larger than ever before.
From some Of them he is gathering as
many as 100 yiolets. and these with long
and strong stems. lie said he
would nave probably coco violets
with which TO supply his orders
| He has already booked orders for
| about 40 CO., and he thinks the others VIII
| he spoken for before the week is out.
| Nl0lels arc Seillib dt - lNA hNANANNf
and orders are varying in size from 100
Of the beautiful wee things TO 1SOO, which
Is the largest order, booked from young
| society man here 10 be delivered to one
| OF Richmond's beauties. The name OF the
man could not be learned, but he remark
| cd that he wanted the young lady TO have
| enough of her favorite flowers on Easter
| TO cover herself with, II she 50 desired.
| The average orders are for about 200 vio-
| lets. IT is seldom that a youOg lady
wears more than this number at once.
! Indeed about 100 or $50 Wolets are con-
sidered enough to wear at one time, ana
| to wear several hundred IS not considered
very good taste.
| ROSES, AND CARNATIONS.
Roses are especially handsome this year.
| The florists are not raising prices on
| them, though these beautiful blossoml
| are In great demand. The favorlte rose
| is the American Beauty. which is selling
| from 81 to 81 per dozen, according 20 size
| and development OF bloom and length and
| shape Of stem. Very pretty Beauties car
be had for 50 per dozen.
| Many orders are being booked for Tes-
tout roses. which are very popular now
| They are especially attractive for parlor
| decora ton. As vase flowers the Testoui
rose has few equals. They are bringing
81 per dozen, as are also the brides roses
which are being ordered by many. There
is a pretty little yellow rose which Is
| especially popular for setting-on VIM
dows. Il is selling for 81 per dozen The
flower is small, but exceedingly graceful
| and quite fragrant.
| Carnations are all the rage for the
| lunch or dinner table. Both the pink and
the white are being sold in large quanti'
| ties IL is quite the thing 10 mix them
They are also being worn on the person
and frequently a white or red carnatior
is seen in the hair. They are selling from
50 cents 10 rs cents per Dozen according
10 quality. Many orders have already
been booked. There is a big supply oil
them.
LILIES AND AZALEAS.
The Easter lily is In great demand
again this year. Perhaps they we're never
more beautifully developed, and the sup
pIy is quite large this year. Some OF the
plants have as many as ten or twelve
blooms. while a number OF the plants
spring two or three in one pot. The lilies
are being used for house and church dec
| orations. In parlor windows and AROUND
the hearth-stone the graceful things are
placed. Many orders have been booked fol
these flowers. The price varies from y
cents 20 81.
Another flower which IS exceedingly
popular at this time Is the asalea- These
vary In size from the small specimen
| about the size OF a. saucer, TO the 'arg'
| Kind. bigger than bushelmeasure. TIT
red. white and variegated can all b'
| had. ranging in price from $l.59 to y
| MANY of them have been sold They ar
used principally for house decoration