CONVEXTION OF SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS 191 



REPORT FROM NEBRASKA. 



At the Convention of the Society of American Florists, Held at Minne- 

 apolis, August 20. 



Lewis Henderson, State Vice-President. 



As vice-president of your society for the state of Nebraska, I take 

 pleasure in submitting the following report from that state, which, less 

 than forty years ago, was designated upon the maps of the school geog- 

 raphies of our country as tlie "Great American Desert." But things have 

 changed and are steadily improA'ing each year, and this once desert 

 region is now considered the garden center of our great country. 



To the florist and horticulturist is greatly due the credit of this 

 wonderful change, attributed to the refining and beautifying and inspir- 

 ing influence of flowers; to the planting of flowers and trees and orna- 

 mental horticulture in every city, tov.n and hamlet of our state. 



Tlie flowers have done more for the upbuilding of the state than 

 words can tell. They suggest by their silent beauty a home content, as 

 if to say, What is the use of leaving our state of Nebraska for Cali- 

 fornia or other states which are considered lands of flowers, when we 

 have or can have the same right here in our midst? Our soil is just as 

 productive as any under the sun. Our parks and boulevards just as re- 

 freshing, and the fragrance of the roses just as sweet. Our florists have 

 worked hard, and any one who has been in the business for years knows 

 there is a lot of work connected with the same to be a successful florist. 



It gives me very great pleasure fo report from information received 

 from over the state that the year has been a verj' prosperous one in the 

 various lines of floriculture. Each one has made some improvements 

 and each proprietor is more prosperous and has more time for pleasure 

 than in other years. 



The demand for cut flowers is greatly on the increase for weddings 

 and receptions as well as for use in the sick room and at funerals. 



The State Horticultural show held last year at Lincoln was very 

 creditable to the florists and a fine display was made both in cut flowers 

 and plants. To the Nebraska State Florists' Society is greatly due the 

 credit for the interest taken in these various shows in conjunction with 

 the Horticultural Society. 



The Omaha Florists' Club which meets once a month in Omaha, 

 has done some good work the past year in a social way in creating good 

 fellowship among the florists as well as some relief work during the 

 spring, when we had the misfortune to be struck by one of the most 

 disastrous tornadoes :"n the history of the country, but luckily there 

 were not many florists damaged. 



1 wish to extend • hanks to the various contributors in the East as 

 well as those locally w'no gave to the relief fund of Mr. H. Jensen, whose 

 home and greenhouses were totally wrecked by the tornado, but which 



