New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
THE FLOWER TRADE BOOM.

OF SENDING THEM.


the city, and all seem to be doing a good
business while the old established houses are
kept busy filling orders
The Wholesale flower dealers have all in
creased their store facilities and although the
quantities of cut and potted plants which they
receive daily are much greater than they a
few years ago, they rarely have any stock left
on their hands.
THE reason for this" said one of the fash
ionabIe florists 'is that the business of selling
flowers on the street has increased wonder /
fully. The wholesale dealers have arrange .
ments with street vendors by which the left
over stock is taken by them at a reduced price.
The street make the flowers up into
punches and sell them in the shopping dis
trict and al the elevated stations. Volets for
instance, are not worth much after they are q
day old and the street men get them at a small /
figure and make money the punches which
they sell for 10 cents"
The popular violets now in the market are
the California a large. fragrant flower. which /
looks well, but fades quickly; the Marie Louise, /
which is of the double" class, dark and hardy, |
and the Lady Campbell, also a double violet, |
but lighter in color.
What is the PRICE? Why that depends said
the dealer. Here is a bunch as good any man
wants If you want it for your wife just to take
home this way. it's 81; if you want to send /
It to a friend with lavender ribbon, it will be
90 cents extra, and if you want it for a particu-
lar friend and must have a deep fringe to the
ribbon, a fancy box and other trimmings you /
get it built UP to almost any price; but
about 81 80 will cover extreme cases for punches
of this size"
There is a limit to the violet purchase, be-
cause rarely buys than a double !
bunch.
"a single bunch is the proper thing" said the
florist; "a double bunch shows that the sender
Is quite intimate with the for whom the
flowers intended, and, more than that, is
evidence of engagement. In the matter of
there is no such limit We send punches
of fifty, and from that all the way down to two
three handsome blooms. The general ten I
dency is toward small quantities, and our best
customers and the people of best taste buy
flowers in small quantities. Once upon a time |
and not very long ago at that. it consd- |
cred mean to send anything less than a dozen
roses but receive hundreds of orders now
for punches of three"
Among the roses shown by florists this
the Liberty, which is deep red and
looks like enlarged Jack. and the Golden |
Gate, also a large flower shell pink in color. /
The American Beauty and the Bridesmaid are
still popular.
Orchids, of which fine specimens may be had
at 81 each are growing in popularity. and with /
In the last few months the demand has in
creased more than in years before
While the florist was showing his wares and
telling about the latest styles he was called /
to the telephone He returned in a few minutes /
and said with smile: That's a part of our
business that few outsiders have any idea of !
Now, this order is from one of our regular Gus
toners, but nobody him here We
know when he telephones Purple o'clock
that we must send a bunch of violets to a GER
tain place, and when he telephones Red dinner |
time or Red, opera that certain number of
roses must be sent to another place. He |
like many other customers. has an account on
our books under a name not his own but we |
know that accounts of that kind are ALWAYS
paid. Now it would be a difficult matter to
bring suit against or send a collector to The
man who sends violets to -' or The Orchid
Dude, or Half dozen roses for Miss --' or
Vioets every Saturday afternoon or Roses for
dinner Miss -'S friend
But those of the accounts on our
books. We the confidential friends of our
customers and We hold their goodwill by know
ing nothing, and people often wonder at engage
ments and other society news which the florist
lawyer and the dressmaker are looked upon as
the custodians of secrets, but the florist should
be added to the list"
A new feature in the flower business in New
flowers daily 10 friends who board ocean