Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-26
COSTLY CHRISTMAS BLOOMS.
Roses at $50 Dozen Find Purchasers
in Broadway.
From the New York Times.

One of the features of the holiday season
has been the trade in flowers. 1t is a re-
markable fact, vouched for by the large
dealers. that while prices have never been
higher, sales have never been larger, a COM
bination that brings joy TO the heart of the
florist. The fashionable florist does not
care to advertise the fact that he gets
kings ransom for his wares at this time of
year, and that American Beauty roses and
violets, for instance. are worth just about
their weight in gold. 1t might be interest
ing. therefore, to listen to the conversation
between an intending purchaser and
Broadway flower merchant
The shop is a riot of beauty and color.
Potted plants stand about everywhere.
most of them bearing the label Sold.
The Glass-front ice boxes reveal the beau
ties within, and now and then as the doors
of the refrigerators are opened a rush of
senses. a purchaser is pointing to some
majestic roses in the cage.
How much are those?' he asks.
American Beauties" answers the florist.
They range in price from s24 to SIG
dozen. Oh, We have other kinds" he says,
quickly noticing the look of dismay on his
customers face.
Other roses range from 81 to SD dozen.
We have orchids for 80 dozen. and ported
azaleas and heather. which make very ac-
ceptable presents and are the fad now cost
from SO to s2J a pot. Niolets are ST. a hun
ured, and hundred or two make very
nice bunch. This year We are filling baskets
with cut Easter lilies and holly, and the
combination is a very handsome one. We
can make up basket for YOU for SD. Then
here is another novelty. Boxwood wreaths,
the green of which is set off with red rib
bons, and makes beautiful effect. We
alone import that lockwood, and a wreath
like that costs SO. Here are poinsettas,
whose red leaves make fine contrast with
greens: they cost from "a to So a dozen.
When it comes to baskets or pieces of any
kind we can meet any demand or make any
combination. 1t is only necessary to fix a
price, or. if you leave il to us, you can be
assured that you will be satisfied.
Largest business for years. said the
florist turning to the reporter. Il don't
suppose well have flower or plant left
when We close tonight. The rush has been
something unprecedented. The prices are
high, but there are plenty that will pay.
You see. we had bad weather during the
hrst part o. the week. and the flowers did
not open. We need sun in our business as
much as and more than we need heat.
Without sun the flowers will not get good
color. Just like people you see. only more
so. Conditions like that make flowers scarce,
and when flowers are scarce they are cx-
pensive.
Then flowers are more the fad than they
have ever been. There are lot of people
who cannot form any idea of what to give,
especially 10 the lady Of their choice. Sc
lectlng presents causes some very anxious
moments, and great deal of care and tact
has TO be exercised. Now with flowers il
is always the same. They can be sent with
prcpriety to anybody, and the purchaser
knows that they will not only be appre-
ciated for their beauty, but for their cost
as well. Every young Woman knows that
flowers at this time of year are about as
expensive thing young man can dip
into, so that when she gets A few dozen
American Beauties she figures up from $50
to $40 and knows that her admirer has not
sunted himself. People who get flowers at
this time are usually those who do not need
the substantial things of life.
THAT basket he said turning suddenly
to some one who had interrupted. Yes;
We can fill that nicely with roses for $50
All right, sir; what is the address," and
SO II went on.
The fashionable Broadway florist has by
no means the monopoly of The trade His
competitors on side streets ana in out-of-
the-way places We're also rushed through
out the week. In a few instances the street
booths have managed to stand the advance
IN prices and keep OPEN but the Greeks
who lmportuned shoppers with offers of
MOWERS at 10 cents a bunch We're almost
entirely driven out of business. One of
the wholesale florists accounted for this by
saying that as a rule the Greeks obtained
the partly faded flowers from the florists
and wholesale houses at a fraction of their
worth. and so were able to sell them cheap
~. Now, however, he said in the era of
high prices and the rush many a bud that
would ordinarily have been considered TOO
far into the sere and yellow was made III ,io
DUTY hidden IN among the fresher and more
fragrant of its kind