GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



OF AMERICA 



DEVOTED TO THE SCIENCE OF FLORICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE 



ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF 

 THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARDENERS 



Vol. X\'I. 



Al'Rir., 1013 



.\'< .. 



America's Greatest Flower Show 



By William Turner 



The third International Exhibitioii in the Grand Cen- 

 tral palace, New York Cit}-, may be placed on record as 

 one of the very best ever held in every respect. The 

 exhibits were of the highest order, and the publicity 

 committee did great work, and should be highly com- 

 mended. While the horticultural press is a great factor 

 towards bringing together a great majority that are d.i- 

 reclly interested in horticulture and floriculture, how- 

 ever, I am of the opinion it is the daily press that reaches 

 the great masses ; at any rate the attendance was excel- 

 lent throughout the whole week, and the quality *of the 

 exhibits is beyond my comprehension to fully describe. 

 Whoever missed the opportunity of seeing this great and 

 varied collection of plants and flowers missed a treat 

 that may not be duplicated again for some time. One 

 may read the descriptions of a hundred writers, but that 

 would not give an iota as to the grandeur and high 

 standard of this great exhibition. 



The arrangement of the different exhibits on the first 

 floor were superb. True, the whole panorama could not 

 be taken in at a glance ; still, is that a disadvantage to the 

 genera! public? I think not, as there was ample space 

 for the visiters to go around and enjoy the different 

 scenes ; in fact, different patrons of the show expressed 

 their pleasure in this respect. 



Another item should not be lost sight of which made 

 the exhibits doubly interesting to the general public. I 

 refer to the prize pasters. This to some may seem a 

 small matter, but undoubtedly by having the prizes on. 

 the public can applaud the winner or criticise, as the case 

 may be. I believe it is of great advantage to all exhibi- 

 tions in placing awards as promptly as possible. Evi- 

 dently the managers realized this fact, as they were placed 

 on as soon as the decisions were made by the army of 

 judges. 



It has been said, and with nmcli truth, that anyone 

 can size uj) an establishment by the condition of the 

 entrance. Did the managers have this motto in niindr 

 i think they must have had, as those massive bav trees 

 from Julius Roehrs Company, and j\Trs. H. McK. 

 Twombley's, and arecias from the Metarie Ridge Nur- 

 sery Company, New Orleans, gave dignity and grace, or. 

 in other words, they were there to tell us that we were 

 entering an exhibition of no ordinary caliber. It is a 

 great scheme to give the public a good impression be- 

 fore they start on their tour around the ])lace. Nor could 

 they be disappointed when reaching the main floor. 

 Many a one who enjoyed their first view were com])clled 

 to halt and wonder whether it was fairyland instead of 

 a ])art of Manhattan. 



It seems that each and every one entered into this com- 

 petition with a vim and determination to make this show 



second to ntjue. I think I am safe in stating that their 

 efforts have been crowned with success, both for their 

 high- standard of exhibits and financially. It has been 

 said in times gone by that floral exhibits outside of the 

 florist stores are practically a failure in New York City, 

 but evidently when made aware that an exhibition of the 

 highest order is awaiting their inspection, the people will 

 respond, and when once the metropolis of .\merica is 



'0k ^ 



MR. WILMAM TURNER. 



aroused, a rousing success is assured. I look ui'Mi !liii--c 

 high standard exhibitions as a stepping stone towards ad- 

 vancements in floriculttu-e. The ladies and gentlemen 

 of means see for themselves what can be produced, which 

 is apt to stir up new energy and advance the progress 

 of time. I have often had the desire to see less exhibi- 

 tions throughout the country, but exhibitions of a more 



