October 16. 1902. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



675 



Funeral Bunches. No. 4. 



not have been acquired in any other 

 way, and with so little time and ex- 

 pense. 



The essays were very instructive and 

 deserve careful consideration by all who 

 read the reports. The subjects were ad- 

 mirably handled by the writers, who 

 showed an accurate knowledge of the 

 subjects in hand. In addition one was 

 particularly impressed with the extem- 

 poraneous addresses, which were full of 

 useful information, coming, as they did. 

 from some of the brightest members of 

 the floricultural world. 



Taking it all in all the convention was 

 a most decided success for everyone con- 

 cerned. The full purpose of it was ac- 

 complished. The florist came to meet 

 and to discuss, to interchange thoughts, 

 and to take away that which his asso- 

 ciate had to give, returning therefor 

 value received. The other phase of the 

 convention, and a most important one, 

 was the advertising end, where were new 

 and elaborate displays of greenhouse 

 improvements, flowers, plants, novelties 

 and supplies; and it must be that every- 

 one who viewed them and made a study 

 of their make-up and arrangement, as 

 well as of their merits and uses, must 

 have left better fitted for his own par- 

 ticular line of business. 



And now, to recur to our especial sub- 



ject, it is in order for us to note in con- 

 sidering the commission man's view 

 point, that any movement or action 

 which benefits any brancli of the trade 

 must needs be helpful to him, for it is 

 by the very success and advancement of 

 others that he is enabled to put forth 

 his best effort; and on the other hand, 

 his effectiveness in accomplishing his 

 ends is his best assurance of attaining 

 a progressive and helpful position, both 

 with respect to himself and the ultimate 

 consumer. Thus we find that in no 

 other business is the underlying princi- 

 ple of the convention better shown than 

 that more is to be accomplislied by con- 

 certed endeavor than by individual ef- 

 fort. 



To this end did the convention direct 

 its efforts, and in this purpose will the 

 influence he found to have its result. I 

 am sure that every wholesaler there 

 present was constantly impressed with 

 the great good that the convention was 

 accomplishing, and felt that his future 

 interest depended to a considerable de- 

 gree on the continuance of an institu- 

 tion at once so beneficial and necessary. 

 I consider it a great privilege to have at- 

 tended the convention, and I trust that 

 I, with many of you, shall in the future 

 be enabled to take part in the work. 



AN EUROPEAN TRIP. 



BY HENRY F. MICHELL. 



[Read.'before the Philadelphia Florists' Club 

 October?.] 



Mr. President and Members of the 

 Philadelphia Florists' Club: — It gives 

 me great pleasure to comply with your 

 request to make some remarks about 

 my recent European trip, and hope that 

 you may pardon the rambling sketch 

 which I have jott<?d down from my mem- 

 ory since returning. Had I known be- 

 fore I started on my journey that I 

 would be called upon by this honorable 

 body to give it some notes about my trip, 

 I sliould have prepared myself with a 

 more interesting paper for you. As my 

 trip was, as you know, partlj' pleasure 

 and recreation, I shall, with your per- 

 mission, not talk shop or horticultural 

 topics exclusively. 



All the ."Unericans who have traveled 

 abroad will confess that they need not 

 have gone to Europe to see more beauti- 

 ful scenery than is to be found in our 

 own grand country. Visit the lands be- 

 tween the Atlantic and Pacific, our own 

 glistening lakes, the Rocky ilountains 

 and other places of American scenery, 

 and I feel sure that they compare most 

 favorably with, if not exceed, the much 

 talked of places in Europe. Certainly the 

 customs, languages, etc., are a complete 

 change to Americans, which is a great 

 recreation indeed. 



After a, journey of very pleasant 

 weather on the ocean we reachetl London, 

 where we expected to see the much talked 

 of coronation of King Edward and the 

 Queen. The English people, as well as 

 all the visitors, were so disappointed 

 when the news was announced of tlie 

 postponement that hardly a pleasant face 

 or a smile was visible on the millions 

 of people for two or three days. 



London, especially on Regent and Ox- 

 ford streets, Pall Mall, Strand and other 

 avenues where the great processions were 

 to pass, was in a grand holiday attire. 

 The decorations on the gi'eat business 

 and government buildings were massive 

 and superb. The floral part was certainly 

 effective. Nearly all of the balconies, 

 windows and grand stands were a mass 

 of bloom. The principal combinations, 

 however, were red geraniums, white dais- 

 ies and blue lobelias, which must have 

 been grown especially for this celebra- 

 tion, judging by the great quantities 

 used. 



My trips around London were prin- 

 cipaily to the famous Kew Gardens, 

 Hyde Park, Hampton Court, Kensington 

 Gardens, Crystal Palace and St. James 

 Park. All these grand parks are kept 

 up in the very best manner, especially 

 the lawns were carefully taken care of. 

 One of my most interesting visits was 

 the day spent at an extensive mushroom 

 spawn establishment near London. The 

 greatest care is taken there in the selec- 

 tion of spawn, which in addition to grow- 

 ing mushrooms for the London market 

 is the proprietor's only business. I was 

 made very welcome indeed by the gentle- 

 man, who on my visit ordered his new 

 United States flag to be hoisted on the 

 great flag staff in my honor, which was 

 quite patriotic indeed. I asked him for 

 the best remedy for the disastrous mag- 

 gots and flies, and he informed me that 

 the following was the best method to 

 avoid or destroy the pests: Two ounces 

 of salt in a gallon of water; sprinkle 

 this over the beds once a week. A cov- 

 ering of salt sea sand is also a preven- 

 tive. He also advised preparing the 



