AUGUST 17, 1899. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



279 



Having determined the candidate for 

 introduction, the method of bringing it 

 before the trade will next interest the 

 originator. There are two methods 

 now in use. differing to such an extent 

 as to deserve separate descriptions. 

 The first and possibly most frequently 

 ■employed is what we may term the 

 "Boom Method," and in order to be 

 successfully carried out needs the co- 

 operation of several different elements 

 and the accumulation of a large num- 

 ber of stock plants. 



Briefly stated, the boom method con- 

 sists of praising and pushing the mer- 

 its of the candidate for introduction in 

 all possible ways, and advertising all 

 its virtues, real and imaginary, con- 

 stantly through all available mediums. 

 Certificates of merit, special cups and 

 prizes offered to be won by the candi- 

 date, as well as frequent exhibitions 

 at flower shows, supplemented by well 

 written press notices, form the usual 

 plan, and when cleverly carried out re- 

 sult in large sales, and considerable 

 profit to the introducer during the 

 year of introduction. 



The second and perhaps the most de- 

 sirable method might be termed the 

 "Business Method," and while not pro- 

 ducing such large sales the first year, 

 eventually accomplishes more for the 

 general benefit of the fraternity than 

 the method just previously described, 

 and may be safely ventured with a 

 stock of 1,500 to 2,000 plants to propa- 

 gate from. The varieties selected for 

 introduction may be brought to the at- 

 tention of the trade by placing the 

 flowers in the hands of leading retail- 

 ers, as well as by judicious advertising 

 and staging them at the annual exhibi- 

 tions. 



The descriptions given should be cor- 

 rect; avoid producing impressions or 

 arousing expectations that cannot be 

 fulfilled. Be satisfied with selling a 

 fair quantity at a good price the first 

 season and endeavor to be in a posi- 

 tion to satisfy the second season's de- 

 mand, which will be large if your se- 

 lections possess merit. 



Propagate your stock carefully, se- 

 lecting your propagating wood with 

 judgment keeping stock in good health 

 and sending out the young plants in a 

 condition that will insure good growth 

 and a successful crop of flowers in the 

 hands of the average florist. 



I do not mean to carry the impres- 

 sion that the introducer is limited to 

 the two methods above described. Each 

 introducer may adopt any honorable, 

 legitimate means whereby he brings 

 his productions to popular notice and 

 secures a profitable sale thereof. 



If the carnation specialist can get 

 under the wing of a copper king and 

 deftly twist a $30,000 nugget from the 

 plethoric purse of the monarch of met- 

 als, he may well congratulate himself, 

 and no doubt many of the fraternity 

 will also congratulate him; but it may 

 be well to remember that there are as 

 yet few Lawsons, even fewer Fishers, 

 perhaps, while the combination of 

 Lawson, Fisher and Galvin is the rar- 

 est bird of all. 



It may. however, be well to compre- 

 hend that a reputation for reliable and 

 honorable dealing may be established 

 by the introducer of new plants as well 

 as by any other business man, and 

 such a reputation will become a source 

 of much profit to its possessor and a 

 surer aid in marketing his productions 

 than could all the prizes and certifi- 

 cates that he might be able to win. It 

 therefore behooves the intending in- 

 troducer of new carnations to not only 

 be cautious and circumspect in the se- 

 lection and judging of his own seed- 

 lings, but to guard his statements well 

 and to let no shadow of misrepresen- 

 tation linger about the descriptions 

 with which he brings his favorites to 

 his patrons' notice. 



Remember that ten satisfied custom- 

 ers are far more valuable than a thou- 

 sand dissatisfied ones; and the way to 

 create satisfied customers is to intro- 

 duce only varieties which your expe- 

 rience teaches you will have a prob- 

 able chance of succeeding, and to de- 

 liver the stock in such a condition that 

 the purchaser will not be handicapped 

 in his efforts to successfully test your 

 introductions. 



ICHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 



The annual meeting of the Chrysan- 

 themum Society of America was held 

 at Detroit Thursday morning. The 

 treasurer reported a balance on hand 

 of $457.76. Some changes were made 

 in the scales for judging. Officers for 

 the ensuing year were elected as fol- 

 lows: E. G. Hill, president; Edwin 

 Lonsdale, vice-president; Elmer D. 

 Smith, secretary; John N. May, treas- 

 urer. The president was instructed to 

 change one member of each of the lo- 

 cal committee every year. 



AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY. 



But a brief session was held 

 Wednesday afternoon, and this was 

 devoted to the interests of the Ameri- 

 can Rose Society. President W. C. 

 Barry made an eloquent plea to those 

 present to support the movement to 

 place the Rose Society on its feet. This 

 was supplemented by earnest words in 

 the same line by Robert Craig, E. G. 

 Hill and J. N. May, the latter saying 

 that the rose had made him what he 

 is today. 



As the result of these appeals eleven 

 of those present took life memberships 

 in the society at $50 each, and there 

 are a good many yet to hear from. 



Secretary Paul M. Pierson expressed 

 himself as much encouraged by the 

 enthusiasm displayed and anticipated 

 a bright and useful future for the 

 American Rose Society. 



A BOWLING ORGANIZATION.' 



The National Florists' Bowling As- 

 sociation was organized at a meeting 

 on the excursion boat at Detroit, at 

 which the following ten clubs were 

 represented: Omaha, Philadelphia, 

 New York, Flatbush. St. Louis, Chi- 

 cago, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Buffalo 

 and Detroit. 



Officers were elected as follows: 

 President, Robert Kift, Philadelphia; 

 secretary, P. J. Hauswirth, Chicago; 

 treasurer, J. F. Wilcox, Omaha. 



The officers were constituted a com- 

 mittee to draft rules and regulations. 



The membership is by clubs, and 

 each club is expected to subscribe $10 

 to a fund, 50 per cent, of which will be 

 used to provide prizes for those not 

 rolling in any of the regular teams, 

 and 50 per cent, to provide second 

 prizes for the teams. 



THE TROLLEY RIDE OF THE DE- 

 TROIT CONVENTION. 



This feature of the entertainment 

 department of the convention on Tues- 

 day afternoon was a fine beginning 

 and a great success. Eight carloads of 

 happy visitors, accompanied by the lo- 

 cal florists, started from the City Hall 

 at 3 p. m. Every car was in charge 

 of four of the Detroit Club, so that the 

 arrangements for the enjoyment of all 

 were perfectly made and the whole 

 afternoon's pleasure was carried to a 

 happy conclusion without a hitch or 

 disappointment of any kind. The 

 route was up beautiful Woodward ave- 

 nue, to the limits of the city, past the 

 fine residences of the wealthy, 

 thiough Grand Circus park, and be- 

 yond the boulevard. The return was 

 speedily made to the starting point 

 and then away up Jefferson avenue to 

 the lovely Waterworks park, where a 

 photo of the gentlemen visitors was 

 taken, the ladies looking admiringly 

 on. Thence after an hour's visit to 

 the park itself and investigation of the 

 waterworks, the flowerclock and the 

 American flag bedding work, cars were 

 again taken to the bridge entrance. 

 Carriages over to Belle Isle, a lovely 

 drive through a part of the park, an 

 appetizing lunch at the Casino and a 

 delightful sail on the river to the city. 

 All in all, a: most auspicious opening 

 to a week of limitless enjoyment in 

 which nearly 1,000 participated and 

 which made everybody at home and 

 happy. 



THE WEDNESDAY EXCURSION. 



The excursion up the Detroit river to 

 Star Island on Wednesday afternoon 

 was a most enjoyable affair. The 

 weather was delightful and over 700 

 enjoyed the cool breezes and beautiful 

 scenery. Light refreshments were 

 provided on the boat and music by an 

 excellent orchestra soon set the young 

 people to dancing. 



On the lower deck that "hot bunch" 

 from Chicago made things lively. They 

 sang themselves hoarse and furnished 

 an immense amount of amusement. 



At Star Island a fish supper was 

 served and then followed the ride 

 home, the evening ride on a beautiful 

 moonlight night being even more en- 

 joyable than the two-hour run up. 



The affair was exceedingly well 

 managed and the Detroit Club is enti- 

 tled to much credit for the way this, 

 as well as all the other entertainment 

 features, was handled. 



