502 



horticulture: 



April n, 19i'S 



OF INTEREST TO RETAIL FLORISTS 



SIMPLICITY AND HARMONY. 



Our illustraticn shows a view in 

 Strassbiirg's Hall, Detroit, as deco- 

 rated for a debutante reception by 

 John Bi eitmeyer's Sons early in the 

 winter. Wild smilax and poinsettias 

 were the principal materials used. We 



introduce it particularly as an object 

 lesson in simplicity and harmonious 

 effect. It is exquisitely dane and is, 

 we thinK, worthy of a little study. In 

 the majority of ca?es where florists are 

 entrusted with such worlc it is very 

 apt lO be overdone. 



Easter Suggestions 



We all know only too well that dur- 

 ing such strenuous times as Easter 

 brings to us cut flowers can not be 

 handled as carefully as during nor- 

 mal times. Even the best blooms will 

 suffer by overcrowding in the ice boK 

 and the contact with buyer and seller, 

 still we shall be compelled to ask a 

 higher price for them than usual. 



Therein lies a great pointer for the 

 wholesaler whose future prosperity 

 depends as much on the satisfaction 

 the retailer's customer receives from 

 the wares purchased in the store as 

 does that of the retailer himself. The 

 wholesaler knows full well what trials 

 the retailer must encounter during 

 such time*; and while the latter is per- 

 haps; willing to submit to the dictates 

 of the wholesaler in the most impor- 

 tant point of all — that is, the advance 

 in prices — he only asks for one favor 

 of him. 



This one favor so important and 

 yet so simple is somehow or other 

 only reluctantly acceded to, although 

 it h:<s been practically the only stone 

 in the path of prosperity for many 

 wholesalers and more retailers who 

 are. one might be forced to say, en- 

 tirely at the mercy of the wholesalers 

 for their supply. This point so .grudg- 

 ingly granted is the supply of strictly 

 fresh (lowers. Kveryone Icnows that 

 it takes the cut of several days to sup- 

 ply the demand of one day, but several 

 days is not a week. Give the retailer 

 c. cbpnce to sell good flowers that will 

 stand a little rough handling, so the 

 customer may have something to en- 



joy on the most imi)ortant day of the 

 year. 



More co-operation is needed to solve 

 the price problem so it may appear 

 more reasonable to the public. No- 

 body will complain of a rise in prices 

 around the holidays if within reason, 

 but as l<;ng as we allow carnations to 

 be sold at 1.5c. per dozen one day and 

 the same goods are sold at $t.00 to 

 $1.-50 per dozen three days later, with 

 a similar rise in all other lowers, the 

 public is right in condemning our 

 business methods. 



It may be well for the wholesale 

 house to try and clean up daily to 

 faki!s instead of sacrificing many 

 thousands of fiowers. but il is doubt- 

 ful whether the net result increases 

 the grower's profits. Ceitain it is. 

 though, that in the eye of the public 

 we are losing heavily, and the public 

 after all is our legitimate judge. 



A.lthough far from wishing to advo- 

 cate trust methods, it seems proi)er 

 to suggest to the grower that it would 

 be cheaper for him to curtail his ship- 

 ments several weeks in advance of the 

 holidays and suffer the loss at home 

 instead of through his city outlet. 

 His product instead of bringing barely 

 enough to pay express charges would 

 bring him a fair return, while the re- 

 tailer could then sell at a healthy fig- 

 ure, not fearing competition he simply 

 cannot meet. 



The public understand well enough 

 that the holidays bring about an ad- 

 vance in everything and do not object 

 to a reasonable one. but a jump from 



JOHN BREITMEYER'S 

 =^=SONS— 



Cor. Miami and Qratlot Aves. 

 DETROIT, MICH. 



Artistic Designs . . . 

 Higli Grade Gut Blooms 



We cover all Michigan points and good 

 sections of Ohio, Indiana and Canada 



William J. Smvth 



FLORIST 



Cor. nicblgan Ave. and 3 1st St., CHICAGO 



We ship to all points in Illinois and Iowa. 

 Phones: Douglas 744, Douglas 523, Douglas 740 



M.C.andJ E.HAUSWIRTH 



232 Michigan Ave. 



CHICAGO 



AUDITORIUM ANNEX Tel. Harrison S8S 



SAMUEL MURRAY 



Florist 



Coates House Conservatory 



l«ir BROADWAY, KANSAS CITY, MO 

 Both 'Phor«s 2670 Mafn 



FRED C. WEBER 



FLORIST 



OLIVE STREET ol. LUUlOj MU. 



Established 1873 

 Lode Distance Phone Beil tlndell 676 



GUOe BROSCO 

 /■LORISTS 



WASHINGTON, 

 D. C. 



QUDE'5 



Geo. H.. Cooke 



FLORIST 



Connecticut Avenue and L Street 



WASHINQTON. D. C. 



The Park Floral Go. 



J. A. VALENTINE 

 Pres. 



DENVER, 



COLORADO 



WILLIAM L.ROCK 

 FLOWER CO. 



KANSAS CITY, 



MO. 



will carefully execute orders for Kansas City 

 and any town in Missouri ot Kansas. 



