The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-06-11
London's Flower Trade.
From the London Telegraph.

vi OI OhC OSSSl-
sion no less than $50, 900 worth in a sin
Gle week In the market Il spacious pa
viion is devoted to the sales of blooms,
but this space is not large enough for the
rapidly growing business, and general al
terations are contemplated which will give
double the present amount of room to this
department alone When English flow
ers, which come mainly from Worthing,
Edmonton, Chestnut, Enfield, Ellington
and many places in Kent, are procurable,
the foreign competitors have no chance in
the market, and, in fact, their produce
does not arrive in any large quantities un
til the chrysanthemum season is over. In
our early winter foreign flowers reach us
sooner and fetch good prices. They are
conveyed hither in baskets of two sizes,
one weighing g. pounds and the other II /
pounds The first arrival is from the
South Of France-Nice, Cannes, Mentone
and the Riviera. These consignments
consist of hyacinths, narcissus, anemones
and violets of all descriptions.
The greater portion Of this trade comes
by rail to Calais and Boulogne in special
trains from the South of France, and at
the stations in London the flowers, al
though carefully inclosed, make their
presence known by the most delightful
odors. From Boulogne the Southeastern
Railway Company has carried about 200, :
600 packages this year, and the depart
ment, under the skilful conduct Of Mr..
Bradley, is charging its operations. This
is an enormous increase over the quaint
ties sent during the corresponding months
Of the previous year. The Chatham and
Dover railway has brought to London up
ward of 20, 900 baskets from Calais within
the same period-an increase Of ID, 900
over the number carried from November,
1896, to April 1897, and Mr.. Wylie, of
the Continental Traffic Department, an
ticipates great development in the flu
ture. Baskets Of flowers leave the South
Of France in the evening and are ready
for all the early morning mark ets OF Eng
land two days afterward. They sell for
prices varying from 3s to los, according
to the contents and their condition OF
course, great care is exercised In packing
them. These flowers are grown largely
by industrious French cottagers, by whom
they are also cut and packed, and are col
lccted by agents Of London brokers.
Enormous quantities of cut blooms are
daily received from the Sicily Islands.
About ten years ago there was scarcely
flower in these islands but the owner, Mr..
Donien Smith, spent Il great deal of money
in purchasing bulbs and plants fitted to
grow there 1t is now estimated that the
annual value Of the output of flowers is
E25, 600. Sometimes on Il sale day at
Covent Garden as many as twenty tons of
blooms from the Sicily Islands have been
sold One firm of brokers alone disposes
If E3, 600 worth i'll the course of the year
from these islands After Easter, whether
It be late or early, the demand for foreign
flowers decreases and the English blooms
EASILY hold the field.
\ report has been current both here in
England and in the south Of France that
the foreign supply Of flowers was to be
stopped, owing to the Intervention of the
postotfice. This is a misrepresentation, as
The action in question relates to only Il
very limited import. Visitors to the flower
'egions abroad used to send nice assert
nents by sample post to their friends at
lome. The postoffice authorities of France
md Italy raised the question at the last
Postal Union Conference as to whether
hese boxes Of flowers could not be carried
Is samples, although they were not such
,ona tide. While the question was in
lbeyance, the general postofflce authorities
lere, with their accustomed desire to avoid
to the public, consented to
lllow the practice to continue. However,
1t the Postal Union Conference it was de-
,ided that flowers could not be carried as
trade samples, and after due notice, which
expired on April l, these boxes of flowers
we're refused at the postoffices in the south
Of France. In an explanatory circular the
Postmaster General points out that the
of cut flowers as such by post
INTO the United Kindom is not prohibited,
md that they may, as heretofore, be sent
from the Continent to this country, either
by letter post or by parcel post.
The change Of practice relates only to
he sample post, and the circular contin-
les "Pending the authoritative decision
If the union on this question, the Post
master General has refrained from return
nc such consignments of flowers to the
country of origin in accordance with the
prescribed regulations Now, however.
he question has been deliberately dis
,ussed by representatives Of all the coun-
ries concerned, and the decision has been
hat no exception is to be made in favor
If cut flowers. The Postmaster General
has, therefore, no longer any option in the
natter, but after giving reasonable notice
% the postofices of France and the other
countries concerned, he has issued instruc-
ions for the return Of all such packets En-
roneousl " sent by sample post.
LIE uluSlcilCc lIlc lllll6 ldhcu u COLL
vey letters and parcels from the district
whence our foreign supply Of flowers is
irawn is considered The former occupy
slightly over day, while the parcel post
axes approximately three days. The
cost, too, is increased. By the sample
post four ounces were sent for a penny,
While by parcel post, for packages under
hree pounds, the charge is Is. Cd
Flowers, as the Postmaster General states,
will be taken by letter post, but at letter
'ates.
After all, however, it is only limited
number of people who are affected by the
change. Brokers receive considerable
by parcel post, but never by
sample post, as the weight limit is twelve
ounces. 1t is, therefore, only to tourists
and residents abroad who keep up their
with friends in England by
the pleasant method of sending flowers
that the decision of the Postal Union will
come as matter of regret