WINTER MEETINa. 251 



So much somewhat irrelevant to my subject. Now what can we do for adorn- 

 ment ? In answer [ might point to every park in cities, large and small, to every 

 avenue lined with trees, to every home with a flower garden, to every private con- 

 servatory, to every small or large specimen of flowering or foliage plant grown in 

 the homes of our people, rich and poor. Then I would lead you to the decoration 

 of a banquet hall, a theater, a home or a church, flowers cheering surroundings 

 for festive occasions ; and everywhere I would say : "This is what the florists do 

 for adornment." 



In the parks, collections of beautiful trees and shrubs, dotted about in bright 

 green lawns, form an appropriate background for beds of bright flowers. No spots 

 are more frequently or properly shown to visitors in any city than the parks, and 

 It is the beauty of these that often leave the most lasting and favorable impres- 

 sions. 



You may have thought that my mention of avenues lined with trees was a 

 little out of place. But I feel that the work of the florists and landscape gardeners 

 are inseparable when one speaks of exterior ornamentation. The planting of trees 

 is one item too often neglected in cities. Any one who has seen the beautiful 

 avenues of the capital city of our Union, cannot but be favorably impressed of the 

 vast importance and chaeerful influence of this work. 



By the examples set by the trees and flowers of our parks, and by shaded 

 avenues and the beauties of the florists' gardens and green-houses, and through 

 the inborn love for nature's beauties, the people buy and cultivate flowers — thus 

 carrying their bright colors and delightful perfumes to some degree to almost every 

 home in our land. The florist is vain enough to claim the credit for this work, as 

 he has set the example. He has introduced the flowers into popularity, and has 

 shown their utility. 



Looking at indoor decorations for dinners, weddings or balls, what a variety 

 of things a florist may do for the adornment of the rooms. Beautiful table orna- 

 ments, adding freshness, delicacy, spiciness and delight to the festive board ; bright 

 emblematic floral arrangements, symbols of love, peace and happinese, lending- 

 grandeur and cheerfulness to the wedding celebration; graceful screens and fes- 

 toons of greens and flowers adding to the appropriateness of dancing halls. 



So far I have spoken particularly of the professional or commercial florist, the 

 one who depends upon his work among flowers for his bread and butter. Now, 

 don't you know that each and every one of you must be to a greater or less degree 

 something of a florist yourself? You love flowers, of course, and if you don't, 1 

 know that your wife does, and that means you will have to, whether you want to 

 or not. 



You like to have your garden or your farm or your front lawn looking as 

 bright, cheerful and home-like as possible. Being, as I have just stated, something 

 of a florist yourself, you ought to know that flowers and weeds do not agree when 

 put into the same place together. Not that they have not the same tastes, for that 

 is rather the trouble. The most vulgar will always crowd out the more delicate 

 and beautiful. 



So see to it that the weeds are kept down. Work the soil good and deep. 

 Enrich with well-rotted stable manure wherever you wish to plant flowers or 

 shrubs. Get a good stand of blue-grass over the whole space that you wish to 

 devote to lawns. Consult your wife about the amount you must reserve for her 

 next gown and bonnet, and spend as much as you please for the ornamentation of 

 your grounds. 



