The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-10-16


Stocks of the highest priced for
lists in the city and those of street
peddlers who sell blooms for a few
cents each both come from the same
place. OF the city's 80 or so whole
sale floral establishments, all save
two are on Sixth avenue, or within
stones throw Of it, between Twen-
ty7sixth and Twenty-eighth streets.
Twenty-eighth street is the real
floral capital of the town. On it,
east and west Of Sixth avenue. are
43 wholesale floral establishments,
including one big market that
houses 10 firms. A number, of
COURSE are small establishments,
which do both a wholesale and a re-
tail business. Most, however, con-
fine their attention to the wholesale
trade: Some are specialists, dealing
only In greenery Of various sorts.
On the whole, flowers in season play
the biggest part in the business,
though often out of season specials
may be noted in the window signs.
Stocks come from all over the
country, from tie far South and
the far West, with nearby growers
In New Jersey and PENNSYLVANIA
furnishing the most. Rare blooms
may be seen side by side with
flowers Of the gardens. There is lit
tie or no attempt at display. Flowers
to the dealers are merely commod-
itles-highly perishable, but COM
modities nevertheless. They are
handled on commission as are
onions and potatoes. Business starts
at about 6 o'clock in the morning
and continues briskly until 8. Fri
day, Saturday and Monday are the
big days. In fact, at certain seasons
OF the year, almost all the business
of the market is transacted on those
days.
Time plays an important part in
the flower business. 1t explains why
there are days when roses may be
purchased for five cents dozen on
New York's street. Roses that 90 to
Park avenue in the early morning.
later In the day may find their way
to the subway. They are the same
varieties and come from the same
growers especially in summer,
when roses cannot be held over
night. So those still in stock late in
the day are bought by peddlers
at bargain prices. Speaking of
roses, learned that the weIl-kmown
American Beauty is no longer
grown. The reason is that it couldn't
always be depended upon to flower
so other long stemmed varieties
have taken its place.
Flowers come into New York now
oy the car and truckload. The bust
ness runs into the millions each
year since New York purchases
more flowers than any other city
In the country. There are firms in
the district, however, that 60 back
TO the days when their stocks were
brought in by the basketful. In
those times, the flower market was
at In the morning.
In many of the markets, dis
carded, broken or wilted blooms
talrly carpet the floors. They are
held not to be worth picking up
and are merely swept away when
business is slack enough for the
opportunity. In the days of the flu
epidemic during the war, that did
not hold true. So great was the
mower shortage then that dis
carded stock was gathered up and
sold for at least a nickel q flower.
Eleven florists supply shops also
are located in the wholesale flower
district. Intricate designs for set
pieces, or rather the frames for
them, are available in almost On
oehevable variety. For instance. IL
Is possible to purchase a model
which when properly decked out
turns into an ocean liner. Floral
cottages as well as floral musical
instruments are also available.
subway housekeeping: "Wben
ms wife hoped onto him for coming
home with liquor on his breath he
told her he'd been taking medicine
for bad cough. But when he tried
to pull off couple of samples. all
he'd do was hiccup."
Q Bell Syndicate.-WNU Service