334 



The Weekly Florists' Revie\^. 



AUGUST 23, 1900. 



florist, of the grower of flowers and of 

 other horticultural products, has gradu- 

 ated from the haphazard and sh. ttless 

 methods of twenty-flve years ago into a 

 thoroughly comprehensive and systema- 

 tic method where order and executive 

 management are in absolute control; to- 

 day it is not only a pleasure to visit some 

 of the floral and horticultural establish- 

 ments and see the beautiful plants and 

 flowers, but it is also pleasant and in- 

 structive to note the excellent system, 

 thorough organization and strict ac- 

 countability. 



Capital no longer shuns or fears, but 

 seeks an investment in these industries 

 as one of safety and profit. 



This society has contributed much to 

 educate the florist to more comprehen- 

 sive ideas and methods, a forerunner of 

 commercial integrity and honor. It has 

 raised the industry from a plodding, gro- 

 velling one to the dignity of an art and 

 to the equal of any commercial or man- 

 ufacturing interest. It will compare fa- 

 vorably with mercantile or banliing es- 

 tablishments, requiring the highest skill, 

 executive ability and knowledge of the 

 government of men. The florist, the hor- 

 ticulturist of today, is a man who by na- 

 ture is a restless, changeful being. Were 

 this otherwise, there would be no ad- 

 vance in floriculture or horticulture. He 

 is tired of much of the old and is fond 

 of the new things— new methods with 

 brilliant effects— consequently he wants 

 immediate results. We can safely proph- 

 esy that as time goes on he will become 

 more and more of an interrogator and do 

 more and more of his own thinking. 



How little people think. This was ex- 

 pressed by a prominent gentleman at a 

 public dinner in this city, when he ex- 

 claimed: "There are not two hundred 

 people in New York City who think." 

 This, however, is a pessimistic view. We 

 come here, many of us or all of us, 

 thoughtless of what we can best do to 

 promote the welfare of the society. We 

 come for a good time. Now, I do not ob- 

 ject to a good time myself, and I infer 

 from your iridescent faces that you do 

 not. Perhaps we are not unlike the two 

 boys who were saying their prayers to- 

 gether. One started to say the Lord's 

 prayer and when he said "Give us this 

 dav our daily bread," the other nudged 

 him and whispered: "We've had bread 

 long enough; ask Him for pie." 



The age is intense; it is active In all 

 pursuits: its people are more sensitive and 

 independent in thought, and it appears to 

 me that some methud must be devised 

 to nrevent the society from disintegrat- 

 ing" into different organizations through 

 devotees and lovers of special flowers by 

 such action as shall provide all that they 

 hope to receive from outside organiza- 

 tions. Unless this is done, it is not un- 

 likely that we may address ourselves to 

 diminished audiences, If not diminished 

 members of the society. 



What are the causes and what are the 

 remedies? First, the society is not strong 

 enough financially. This is the most seri- 

 ous cause. It can do little or nothing 

 for its members to carry out their 

 wishes, either bv money or by exhibits 

 or bv premiums. It would be far better 

 for the Society of American Florists if 

 the devoted followers of special flowers 

 contributed such sums of money as they 

 now contribute or deem necessary for 

 special exhibits to a general fund to be 

 under the auspices and direction of this 

 society. These could be known by such 

 names as the Chrysanthemum fund, the 

 Carnation fund or such fund as any par- 

 ticular contributor or contributors may 

 designate for their special flower. 



The Chrysanthemum Society, the Car- 

 nation Society, and last, but not least, 

 the brightest jewel in the constellation— 

 the queen of flowers— the Rose. 

 "Lovliest of lovely things are they 

 On earth that soonest pass away; 

 The Rose that lives its little hour _ 



Is prized beyond the sculptured flower. 



Theodore Parker says: "Every rose 

 is an autograph from the hand of God, 

 on this world about us. He has inscribed 

 his thoughts in these marvellous hiero- 

 glyphics which sense and science have 

 these many thousand years been seeking 

 to understand." 



Every enthusiast in his love for a spe- 

 cial flower, wants a special organizati(m. 

 These societies never would have been 

 organized but for the necessity of having 

 means to develop, improve and advance 

 the claims of their favorite flower. It 

 seems to have been thought a necessity. 

 if these flowers were to be improved, at 

 the present time. I have the honor to 

 be a life member of one of these socie- 

 ties—the American Rose Society— my 

 heart is in the rose. Yet I do not ap- 

 prov'e of these special societies if it be 

 possible to care for them in this organi- 

 zation. The instinctive and universal 

 taste of mankind selects flowers for the 

 expression of its finest sympathies and 

 the universal heart of man blesses 

 flowers. How much more is this senti- 

 ment developed in his favorite flower, 

 tlio love for which burns with increasing 

 brilliancy and strength. How difficult to 

 hold in check the outside action which he 

 takes to advance and improve its beauty 

 and its variety, when the parent society 

 is powerless to assist. How sad the 

 spectacle which many of you witnessed 

 of the bold enthusiast for his favorite 

 flower, the rose, taking possession of the 

 society's meeting at Detroit and appeal- 

 ing to its members to become subscribers 

 for life membership, when the Society of 

 American Florists and Ornamental Hor- 

 ticulturists was in need of funds its=lf. 

 Not the faintest effort was made to ob- 

 tain subscribers for this society at that 

 meeting, and yet it is hard to blame the 

 enthusiasts of rose culture. The remedy 

 for It Is to put money in the purse and 

 expend it freely for the general good. 

 There are other remedies. First, by organ- 

 izing the society into an association, 

 national, if possible, otherwise under 

 state laws with power to hold property. 

 Second, encourage auxiliary societies in 

 every city and large town in the coun- 

 try, which shall obtain their charters 

 from the parent society and for which 

 they shall pay a certain sum. per capita, 

 at the time of organization and annually 

 thereafter according to the numbers and 

 strength of the society. By this plan the 

 society will be continually growing finan- 

 cially stronger and in time will be able 

 to co-operate with the auxiliary society. 

 It would be advisable to have a commit- 

 tee to investigate this proposition and 

 report at the next annual convention. 

 Third, by organizing the co-operative de- 

 partment of purchase and distribution 

 into a corporation, which takes nothing 

 from you but gives you money for good 

 fellowship. What, then, is, or ought to be, 

 our purpose? To co-operate in anything 

 connected with our profession that bene- 

 fits the greatest number; to co-operate 

 for the diffusion of knowledge of flori- 

 culture and horticulture and the happi- 

 ness of our members, and for the bene- 

 fit and happiness of mankind. But if 

 we cast a retrospective glance, do we not 

 see, that most that has lieen done has 

 been largely for self-interest? 



Has the purpose been broad enough, 

 and if so. have we performed the duties 

 which that purpose imposes? Of the 

 great number of florists and horticultur- 

 ists and those intimately connected with 

 us by trade, have we, as members, more 

 than a small percentage? If our society 

 were sufficiently attractive and benefi- 

 cial, as it ought to be, we should ihave 

 thousands join our standard, instead of 

 hundreds. Our membership should be 

 more active, more energetic, take greater 

 interest in the society and band together 

 for the common good. Our exchequer 

 appears to have had hard-sledding,' up- 

 hill and on bare ground at that. Some 

 process should be devised by those who 

 have the welfare of the society at heart 

 and who feel the responsibility which it 

 carries with it. by which money shall 

 flow continuously into our treasury witjh 

 some assurance to those who desire to 

 promote and advance the claims of their 

 special flowers within the society, that 

 it will be done. We are not facing, as we 

 ought, the problems which this purpose 

 demands of us. 



Our members should be constantly 

 thoughtful and active for the society in 



obtaining new members, soliciting every 

 one who trades with them, to become a 

 ' member of the society, following the ex- 

 ■ ample set by that distinguished horti- 

 culturist, C. M. Hovey, of Boston, when 

 he was trying to build up and extend the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. He 

 and his superintendent and clerks solici- 

 ted every person who came to his nur- 

 series or greenhouses to become a mem- 

 ber of that society. In this manner, I 

 became a member at the age of twenty- 

 four. We ought to be more resolute, 

 definite and active and not, Micawber- 

 like, "waiting for something to turn up." 

 It is said not by one step hath chance 

 fashioned on the infinite stairway of time, 

 nor ever came good without labor and 

 toil in science or art. It must be wrought 

 out through the muscles, born of the soul 

 and heart. Are we not floating with the 

 current, instead of seizing the oars and 

 with a firm hand and determination, row- 

 ing up-stream? We ought to work with 

 a deflnite purpose, rather than from im- 

 pulse, turning aside the thought of self, 

 and laboring solely for. the benefit of the 

 society. In this manner only shall we 

 harvest the greatest benefit. It will be 

 found that it is the strength and deflnite- 

 ness of purpose tliat determine the meas- 

 ure of success. It is said that one of the 

 most gracious features of nature is that 

 it is capable of forming high and nob'.e 

 purposes. The mind overleaps its igno- 

 rance and fixes upon the wisest and the 

 best. A clearly conceived purpose 

 strengthens and inspires us, and the suc- 

 cess of a purpose, is the fulfilment of 

 hope. I would not affirm that a purpose, 

 even if cherished with sufficient will and 

 energy, will always carry a man to a 

 goal, but rather carry him onward and 

 upward to some kind of success, some- 

 times greater than his first aim. It 

 would be absurd for me to assert that, 

 if you aim and strive with energy, you 

 will be heads of corporations or famous 

 in any industry or undertaking in which 

 you may embark. Human beings have 

 their limitations and. while you would 

 attain success, it would or might be, in 

 other fleids. Failore, in the sense that 

 it educates, leads to success. Show me 

 the man who has made no failure in an 

 undertaking, and I will show you a man 

 devoid of_ ambition, energy or purpose. 

 A flxcd purpose is the eternal condition 

 of success. It is wisely said that nothing 

 takes its place. Talent, genius, push or 

 circumstances or education will not. The 

 world is bubbling over with educational 

 men, aimless and helpless as the prodi- 

 gal son who fed on husks, but I am glad 

 to see that you, ladies and gentlemen, 

 have escaped that sorry fate. 



You have seen the co-operative depart- 

 ment of purchase installed. Many of you 

 have heard the discussions and know the 

 object, the purpose recommended to the 

 committee appointed by the convention 

 in Detroit; their report was read at the 

 convention; it was printed with the other 

 doings and sayings upon co-operation. 

 The purpose was stated clearly and the 

 convention believed in the objecl; to be 

 obtained by co-operation. The vote at 

 that meeting was that the executive 

 committee of the Society of American 

 Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists, 

 in their individual capacity, and without 

 involving the society in any way what- 

 soever, should organize the corporation, 

 as suggested by the committee. It was 

 the sense of that convention at Detroit, 

 in my judgment, that the corporation 

 should have been organized, without in- 

 volving the. society, but since then, at the 

 meeting of the executive committee, it 

 was the opinion of a majority of the 

 committee that the society did not give 

 sufficient sanction for the organization 

 of a corporation, and so voted to con- 

 tinue the co-operative purchase depart- 

 ment, as it then existed, until the meet- 

 ing of this convention. These several 

 suggestions and recommendations are 

 worthy of your consideration. 



As an illustration of the remarkable 

 growth of floriculture and horticulture, 

 we may instance the great west, where 

 in some localities it has increased in 



