Maiuh 



The Weekly Florists* Review, 



^07 



as possible of the dependablo exhibitors 

 who have the material and the skill in 

 arranging to meet him at the hall one 

 by one (never two at a time) and en- 

 deavor to induce each to accept and till 

 the space which lie, the manager, wishes 

 filled. This requires diplomacy, but can 

 generally be done. 



The cut flower tables must then be lo- 

 cated, also the space for table decora- 

 tions, or other large decorative work. 

 These, especially the table decorations. 

 are best located in a separate room, if 

 possible, although there must be a good- 

 ly quantity of color in the main hall. 

 The rest must be left until the e-\hibits 

 arrive and the manager can size them 

 up and place them where the best effect 

 will be produced. In this process the 

 manager must coax and wheedle, brow- 

 beat and bully, perhaps "cuss" a little, 

 and at last possibly demonstrate that he 

 is the czar of all the Russias for this 

 day and date. At this time there must 

 be one "boss'' and there must be no ap- 

 peal from his decisions. He must dem- 

 onstrate that he is fair but at the same 

 time must make it emphatically known 

 that the whim of no one exhibitor is to 

 be allowed to injure the effect of the dis- 

 play as an artistic whole. Let him ex- 

 plain and argue, If there is time, but if 

 not. let him command and see tliat his 

 commands are obeyed. 



Of course the arrangement of exhibits 

 in classes for judging and their re- 

 arrangement before the public is admit- 

 ted is desirable, but in large exhibitions 

 where the hall rental amounts to many 

 hundreds of dolars per day tliis cannot 

 be done. Well in advance of the work 

 the necessaiy men will have been en- 

 gaged and instructed. Tables, stands, 

 vases, paper, hammers, wire, laaders, wa- 

 ter cans and all the other thousand and 

 one requisites will have been provided, 

 placed in convenient location and put in 

 charge of a trustworthy man. From the 

 time the exhibits begin to arrive until 

 the doors are opened to the public the 

 manager must be in the hall. He must 

 be prepared for every conceivable aoci: 

 dent, and many that are not conceivac 

 ble. 



A time should be set at which no 

 more exhibits or material shall enter the 

 hall, ana he must have a man at the 

 door who will be proof against entreaty, 

 bulldozing or physical force. Another 

 hour should be set at which all must 

 be ready, and he should begin early and 

 notify all at frequent intervals that the 

 rule will be enforced. It is not fair to 

 the public to admit them to a half- 

 staged exhibition after they have paid 

 to see a finished one. and it is not fair 

 to the exhibitor who is on time to have 

 his display stand and possibly suffer to 

 help out the delinquents. 



When the first day's exhibit has been 

 installed half the battle is won. but un- 

 tiring effort and unceasing watchfulness 

 are necessary until the last plant is out of 

 the hall after the show is over. Thefts 

 must be guarded against. The public 

 does not realize the value of the mate- 

 rial shown and the stealing of flowers 

 is considered no great crime by many — 

 and, besides the public, tnere are often 

 others. Each day the water in vases 

 should be changed, withered flowers re- 

 moved and stems shortened. At crowd- 

 ed times plants and flowers must be pro- 

 tected from injury. Faded or damaged 

 material must be removed or placed in 

 less prominent positions and places made 

 for new, fresh and novel exhibits as they 

 come in. 



Sensation. — Ward. 



Dismantling the show should never be 

 done at night if it can possibly be avoid- 

 ed. The hall should be closed until the 

 next day and the exhibits removed by 

 daylight. Where necessary to dismantle 

 at night, the public should be nrade to 

 leave before the work is begun, as a gen- 

 eral assault by the public and the wreck- 

 ing of many exhibits, is apt to occur 

 at- this time. Each exhibitor should be 

 rec^uired to identify his men. and each 

 should be tagged by a piece of card 

 pinned to his coat and bearing the plain- 

 ly written name of his employer. A 

 strong guard should be put ^t the door, 

 no person not properly tagged be allowed 

 to enter, and each employe compelled 

 to keep away from nil exhibits except 

 that of his employer. These seem dras- 

 tic regulations, but their observance will 

 save many valuable plants and much 

 mortification to the manager. In pack- 

 ing vases, tools, etc.. it will be advisa- 

 ble to number each box plainly and keep 

 a record of its contents in a book pro- 

 vided for the purpose. 



In conclusion, let me say that I de- 

 voutly believe there is no town in this 

 broad land where there is a grower of 

 flowers, or a seller of flowers, in which 

 there should not be some kind of a 

 flower show, at least once a year, and I 

 believe there is hardly a town in which 

 one might not be easily held if the flor- 

 ists and growers would display a little, 

 a very little, business horse sense. 



BOSTON. 



Flower Market Ezbibition. 



The ninth annual trade exhibition of 

 novelties and standard varieties of older 

 carnations, given under the auspices of 

 the Boston Co-operative Flower Growers' 

 Association, was held on Saturday. Feb- 

 ruary 27, in the wholesale flower market. 



163 Columbus avenue. Boston, and was 

 well up to the average in number of ex- 

 hibits and quality. The new market is 

 a vast improvement over the old Park 

 street one with its dingy, dark and 

 cramped quarters. The light is good and 

 floor space ample. 



In the classes for standard varieties 

 H. A. Stevens Co., won for fifty white 

 with fine blooms of Governor Wolcott, 

 Geo. M. Anderson being second with the 

 same variety. In scarlet L. E. Small and 

 D. J. Kerrigan won with J. H. Manley. 

 Crane, Estelle and other scarlets were 

 shown in this class. Enchantress was 

 first for light pink and Fair Maid sec- 

 ond; J. W. Foote showing both vases. 

 The fact that Fair Maid beat several 

 entries of Enchantress on this occasion, 

 would show that it is a dangerous rival 

 of that fine variety. 



In dark pink all entries were of Law- 

 son. Miss E. PhiJbrick and L. E. Small 

 being the winners. Harry Fenn monop- 

 olized the crimson class. Excellent vases 

 from M. A. Patten and S. J. Goddard 

 were shown, securing first and second. 

 For variegated D. J. Kerrigan took first 

 and second with Prosperity and Bradt. 

 The first named had fine flowers, but 

 lacked strength of stem. Only one vase 

 of yellow was shown, from Backer & Co.. 

 a good vase of Eldorado securing first 

 place. For 100 mixed blooms W. Nichol- 

 son won with a fine vase. E. M. Wood 

 & Co. had the best vase of twenty-five 

 roses, showing superb American Beau- 

 ties. 



There was a strong entry of violets. 

 Princess of Wales easily led in the single 

 class. W. Sim and W.'Spilsbury having 

 the best. In doubles L. Smith and M. 

 Orr won with Campbell. Certificates of 

 merit were awarded to magnificent vases 

 of Mont Blanc and Blanche Ferry sweet 

 peas from Wm. Sim. These in our onin- 

 ion were the most meritorious exhibits 



