The Weekly Florists' Review, 



363 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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Seen at the Convention. 



There were many good things to be 

 seen by the retailer at the trade show at 

 Buffalo. We were surprised to see in M. 

 Riee & Co.'s display of baskets about the 

 l>est exhibit that has been put up at a 

 convention for many years. We never 

 care so much about the extent of an ex- 

 liibit as we do about its quality; in this 

 particular case we saw many innova- 

 tions and designs in basket ware that 

 are destined to become very popular with 

 up-to-date retailers. Their adjustable 

 willow pot covers are sure to be appre- 

 ciated by all decorators. It is a good 

 thing, not new in design, but new in con- 

 struction; the steel bands, interwoven 

 with the willow, prevents the cover from 

 becoming soggy and adjusts it to all 

 sizes. 



Another good thing was the new re- 

 versible decorative plant stands. These 

 were of several shapes, but all con- 

 structed with a view to be useful even 

 more than ornamental. In one end of 

 the stand is inserted a zinc vase capable 

 of holding a large bunch of long stemmed 

 flowers; when the stand is rever.sed it 

 becomes a substantial plant or basket 

 support. It will be of the utmost value 

 in the store or in decorations. We would 

 advise the addition of some little device 

 that will prevent the lining from falling 

 out when turned upside down. 



There were many new designs among 

 the baskets shown by this firm ; they 

 represented what Europe had to offer this 

 season. Of course, there are many 

 things that "go" in Paris that will not 

 be even looked at in New York. . We 

 have a more critical people to deal with 

 here, and there is less appreciation of the 

 bizarre in art. Such things as colored 

 palm leaf bows will never be accepted in 

 this country, even though they be pop- 

 ular in Paris. 



Rice & Co. also showed some excep- 

 tionally fine colors in Porto Rico matting 

 for fancy pot trimming, and their Ger- 

 man crepe papers are a great improve- 

 ment on what we get in this country; 

 it stands the sight of water, and that is 

 all important. 



H. Bayersdorfer & Co., exhibited some 

 choice baskets, and very handsome wheat 

 sheaves. 



Krick's immortelle lettering and the 

 Boston Florist Letter Company's exhibit 

 showed wonderful improvement in that 

 class of work. Of course, there is not 

 nearly so much lettering used nowadays, 

 but still much is used, especially in 

 downtown localities, and all know what 

 it is to have good lettering; even if you 

 are an adept at twisting the chenille it 

 scarcely pays for you to bother, and the 

 above people's work is much better. Kriek 

 showed some wire pot hooks that are 

 muchi used by decorators in New York; 

 they are very useful for hanging up 

 potted plants; they should be known to 

 everv one. 



There was much of interest in D. B. 

 Long's exhibit. Many of the best retail- 

 ers like to show photos of their own 

 creations to customers, but even in their 

 cases. Long's floral photos are of im- 

 mense value. No store should be with- 

 out an album of good designs; it is es- 

 sential to all lines of business. Long's 

 photos, that is the new ones, are equal 

 to the average work turned out by the 

 best retailers, and none need be ashamed 

 to have them on their counter. We were 

 particularly taken by his cleverly got- 

 ten up booklets for retailers. We consid- 

 er this a most important item to pro- 

 gressive florists. Advertising in these 

 days must be carefully considered. It 

 has become necessary for those in the 

 race to send out cards or booklets at cer- 

 tain periods. Mr. Longs ideas of sup- 

 plying that demand deserve success; his 

 work is artistic and the whole construc- 

 tion is made to appear as your own. 



There were some very fine ribbons 

 shown by S. S. Pennock and Schloss 

 Bros. A specially choice embroidered 

 ribbon was noticed in the former's dis- 

 play. Pity it was that the several bows, 

 especially the new or most popular ones, 

 were not shown by these firms. There 

 must be something better shown for 

 wedding ribbons. 



ike hon 



Brague's work 



Cowee's machine wired tooth picks are 

 of great assistance to the slow stemmer. 

 When the price is a little lower they may 

 be used by experts, if only to dispense 

 with the troubles attached to rusty and 

 tangled wires, and the ever present dull 

 shears. Green stemming sticks are sure 

 to be generally used in the future; tooth 

 picks would look better if dipped also. 

 We might just as well have these little 

 things right now as wait a few years for 

 them. Much of the effectiveness of 

 "made-up" work depends on the total ob- 

 literation of moss, sticks and other in- 

 cidental material, and anything which 

 lessens the work should at once be recog- 

 nized. 



The Ford Company's exhibit of Christ- 

 mas bells was very good. These sell very 

 well in New Y^ork, and there is a big 

 future for them if introduced with more 

 appropriate settings than we have hith- 

 erto seen. Ribbons and red immortelles 

 do not constitute the all in all for Christ- 

 mas decoration ; there is lots to learn 

 in that line. 



Kift's string vases were shown to good 

 advantage. The more they are known, 

 the more general will be their use, not 

 only in window decorations but in every 

 class of decorative work where flowers 

 are used. 



The plant exhibits made by the numer- 

 ous well known firms were of special 

 merit. The small crotons were extra 

 fine, and more should be used in basket 

 work. The trouble with the crotons usu- 

 ally offered for sale is that they are of 

 poor growth, and abominable colors. 

 Growers should try to supply retailers 

 with the kind of stock generally seen at 

 conventions. 



n. Exhibit of C. W. 'Ward. 



There was a cemetery bouquet holder 

 shown by one, we forget whom, that 

 should recommend itself to those doing a 

 cemetery business. 



Baker Bros.' new retinospora will be 

 very valuable for evergreen vase and win- 

 dow box work. 



We saw much that was commendable 

 in Brague's exhibit of decorative ma- 

 terial. His laurel wreaths of their kind 

 were exceptionally fine. These supply 

 men are keeping up with the require- 

 ments of the times. It pays in busy days 

 to give a little extra for stock which 



In Dreer's exhibit Cibotium Scheidei 

 was seen — the great decorative plant of 

 the future. It is now used to great ex- 

 tent by the best trade in New York. 

 There is nothing more beautiful than 

 this fern, be it in window or drawing- 

 room. It will not tolerate ignorant 

 usaLTc; it may be expensive to many on 

 that account, but it is exquisite when 

 properly arranged, and that's the kind 

 of material artists must have, no mat- 

 ter what the cost. 



Of course, everything shown at the 

 trade exhibit was of interest to the av- 



