The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-15
COSTLY CHRISTMAS BLOOMS.
Roses at $50 a Dozen Find purchasers
in Broadway.

i'm Broadway.
One OF The features OF the hoiudF
season has been the trade In fos ers' IL
IS a remarkable fact. vouchcd for 10y the
large dealers. that while prices have
never been larger. a combination tia'
brings joy TO the heart Of the florist. IN
fashionable florist does not care 20 adj
yertise the fact that he gets king
ransom for his wares 40 this time OF year.
and that American Beauty roses ana
violets. for instance, are worth Jual
about their weight in gold. IL might be
interesting. therefore, TO listen 10 inc
conversation between an intending pur-
chaser and Broadway merchant.
The shop s a riot Of beauty ana Color
Pottsd plants stand about everywhere,
most of them bearing the label sod
The glass-front ice boxes reveal the beau
ties within. and now and then as the
doors OF the rCfrgcra.ors are opened
rush Of scent as from June helds over
comes the senses. a purchaser is point
ing 10 some majestic roses in the case.
How much are thoscr' hc asks.
American Bcautics.' answers the
florist They range n price from ga 10
$50 dozen. on We have other kinds,
he says, quickly noticing the look % dis
may on mis- customer face.
"Other roses range from s. 90 80 q
dozen We have orchids FOR sl5 Dozen
and poited azllcas and heather which
make very acceptable presents and are
The fad now. cost from $40 90 - a pot
Ni0iets are Sc Il hundred. auI % hundred
or two make very nice bunch. THIS
year We are filling baskets with cut
Easter lilies and holly, and the comolna-
ton is a very handsome one. We can
make up a basket for YOU for 50. lDen
here IS another novelty. BoNNool
wreaths the green Of which is SET on
with red ribbons, ana makes DeaulIuI
effect. We alone import that lockwood.
and wreath like that costs SO. Here
are poinsettas. whose red leaves make
nne contrast with greens. they cost from
81 10 81 "a dozen. When 10 comes 10 bds-
kets or pieces Of any kind We can meet
any demand or make any combination
10 is only necessary 10 fix price, or II
YOU leave 80 10 us. You can be assured
thaf YOU viii be satisfied.
Largest business for years. said the
florist turning 20 the reporter. "I don
suppose well have a flower or plant
left when We close tonight The rush
has been something unprecedented. The
prices are high. but there are plenty that
during the first part Of 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 Tie flowers viii
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 expensive
Then flowers are more the rad than
they have ever been. There are "a lot Of
people who cannot form any idea Of what
90 give especially 20 the lady OF their
choice. Selecting presents causes some
very anxious moments, and a great deal
OF care and tact has TO be exercised.
Now with flowers Il Is always the same.
Thew can be sent with prOpriety to any
boIv. and the purchaser knows that they
will not only Toe appreciated for their
beauty but for ,neir cost as wei. Every
voune woman knows that flowers az this
time are about as expensive thing as
q young man can dip into, so that She
gets few dozen American Beauties she
figures up from $50 10 So and knows that
her aGmirer has not stinted himself
People who get flowers at this time are
usually those who do not need the SUD-
stanflal things of life.
'~rhat basket" ne said. Turning sud-
denly to some one who had interrupted.
"Yes. we can fin that nicely with roses
for $50 All right sir' what is the adj
dress?" and so it went on
The fashionable Broadway florist has
by no means the monopoly OF the trade
His competitors on side streets and in
out-of-the-way places were also crushed
throughout the week. in "a few instance
the street booths have managed TO stand
the advance in prices and keep open. but
,he Greeks who impOrtuned shoppers
with offers of flowers at 40 cents
bunch" were almost entirely driven oui
Of business one of the wholesale florists
accounted for this by saying that as q
rule the Greeks obtained the partly faded
flowers from the florists and wholesale
houses ut a fraction OF their worth. ana
so were able 10 sell them cheapy. Now.
however. ne said. IN the era OF high