FLOWERS. ■--•"> 



FLOWERS. 

 CHAS. H. GREEN, FREMONT. 



It was only after T had begun to think over what I should inflict 

 upon you, under this heading, that I began to realize what a broad 

 contract I had taken. A subject on which books and poems have been 

 written and the half not yet told. Flowers. Does the word mean 

 the same to any two of us? Shall I tell of the modest flower garden 

 that is the pride of some humble home, or of the vase of cut flowers 

 standing at the bed-side of some pain-racked sufferer, a token of the 

 love and thoughtfulness of friends, or of the way the florist works and 

 plans and studies new methods to produce the blossoms and plants that 

 represent, to him and his, a livelihood. Take the subject from any 

 direction and you have the text for a mighty good sermon. 



A sermon to the florist because the intelligent, thinking man does not 

 live who can spend his time day by day studying and observing the 

 mysterious and wonderful ways of nature, and doubt that he is beholding 

 the unfolding of some all-wise plan. 



It is true, we are living in an age of commercialism. Seemingly, our 

 finer feelings and sentiments are crowded out, in the unceasing rush for 

 profit. Unless we see a chance lo make a profit on a thing, we toss it 

 aside and reach for the dollars. Now, is this altogether true? I will 

 venture the statement that seventy-five per cent of all the flowers grown 

 in the United States for commercial purposes are given away by the pur- 

 chasers. And the total market value of these for 1907 was more than 

 $20,000,000. 



It would be hard to name an occasion or event where a bunch of 

 flowers would not be an appropriate gift. Sent with your congratulations 

 upon the arrival of a new son or daughter, with your best wishes on a 

 birthday, or as a token of appreciation in return for a favor where any 

 other gift would seem sordid and out of place, as a valentine, an. Easter 

 offering, a Christmas or New Year's gift, as a remembrance to let a sick 

 friend know that he is not forgotten, and last but not least, as an ex- 

 pression of sympathy, when the grim reaper comes. And the florists of 

 the country thrive only because the people take this beautiful way of. 

 expressing themselves. 



Scratch the average American citizen hard enough to get through his 

 gold plating and you will find that his heart beats as warm and true as 

 man's heart beat in the day when knighthood was in flower. 



I will not at this time go into the details of flower growing or men- 

 tion the different purposes for which the various sorts should be used. 

 If you want to find out what is best adapted to your particular needs and 

 location, try everything that your nearest reliable dealer will recommend. 

 You will have the benefit of his experience and a chance to get some of 

 your own. You will learn things too, and that is part of the pleasure 

 of raising flowers. 



