The New York herald., 1922-05-14

week brought from % to 80 and even
so cents in some of the more fashion
able shops yesterday.
The public will probably pay to-day
2CJ per cent. above the cost OF carna-
fons i'm the wholesale market seven
days ago, Retailers are trying TO keep
the price down, one of them said. The
highest price by the dozen was 81,
which is 81 more than they were ask
ing for them last week.
Max Schling, of Fifth avenue near
Sixtieth street. put the blame for the
increase in price on the wholesaler
and then explained that the growers
had forced the wholesaler to demand
more 1.-The price of cut flowers de-
pends on the demand" Mr. Selling ex-
planned "and when one flower, the
carnation, is designated as the flower
to wear on Mothers Day naturally the
great demand forces the price up.
THE florists are offering other
flowers to the purchaser. suggesting
that it is for remembrance, and the
pansy or the rose or a narcissus, IL a
white flower is desired. is just as ap-
propriate as a carnation and does not
cost so much.
Says Retailers Lost.
Last year florists sold carnations at
a loss on Mothers Day They paid an
average of 25 cents a flower to the
Wholesale dealer and often sold them
at a lower figure, and almost none went
for more than 25 cents. The retailers
were the goat on that occasion, but they
do not intend to play the role again.
"Pansies have much more sentiment
than the carnation-pansies mean
th &c nd u.,a ig
than to wear a few pansies to show you
are thinking Of a mother who is gone
or one who Is still living? A small
sweetheart rose is equally suitable and
sentimental, and cornfiowers are being
offered"
TO the question whether retailers
were going to demand $6 a dozen for
carnations to-day. Mr.. Schling replied
that the price was too much. that car
nations We're not worth that figure even
in view of the extraordinary demand.
Mr.. Schling will have two flower girls
stationed in front Of his shop this morn
ing, each carrying a tray of bouton-
nieres of pansles, cornflowers. sweet
heart roses, narcissi. poetica and other
small blooms, which will be given away
free to the public. His object in dis
tributing them--and he will have 5000
on hand--is to help along the campaign
to substitute other flowers for the pre-
scribed carnation.
Frank Millarg. a Wholesale florist,
said that Spectators and growers were
holding back quantities of carnations in
the hope of getting an even higher price
than the one asked early yesterday,
which is an advance of 100 per cent.
over last weeks price. The best carna-
tions are sent from Massachusetts, Con-
necticut. New Jersey. New York State
and Pennsylvania. There is big sup
ply, he said, but IL the demand continues
strong the price to-day will be high.
Officially Bars Flowers.
The Mothers Day International AS.
ISOLATION of Philadelphia, whose presi-
dent Is Miss Anna Jarvis. has fatty put
it's foot down on all floral propaganda
for May ID, even crushing the pink and
red carnation vogue under heel. Miss
jar Wis asks that it be announced that
her association has barred flowers for
Mothers Day. "Only the official but
ton badge of this association will be
used hereafter" is Miss Jarvis's state
mcnt.
She adds that through the florists and
tho American Legion, who have COM
bined, carnations have been boosted to