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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



AT THE CONVENTION OF THE SOCIETY OF 

 AMERICAN FLORISTS AND ORNA- 

 MENTAL HORTICULTURISTS. 



ENROUTE TO MINNEAPOLIS. 



Our journey to Minneapolis began in the company of 

 the Bonton tlelegation leaving Boston Friday evening, 

 August 15, over the Grand Trunk system. We soon dis- 

 covered that we were distinguished as a "presidental 

 party," having with us J. K. M. L. Farquhar, president 

 of the Society of American Florists, and James B. Shea, 

 superintendent of the Boston parks and president of the 

 American Association of Park Superintendents, the latter 

 on his way to attend both the S. A. F. convention and 

 that of the park superintendents, which occurred in 

 Denver, following the Minneapolis meeting. The others 

 in our party were William P. Rich, William J. Stewart, 

 Fred C. Green, F. J. Dolansky, E. A. Pierce, M. C. Ebel, 

 S. J. Goodard and daughter, Eber Holmes and wife, 

 M. A. Patten and wife, Thomas Roland and sons, Philip 

 and Robert, and Thomas J. Grey and wife. We were 

 also soon apprised of the fact that our party was a per- 

 sonally conducted one in charge of Joseph M. Shea, 

 traveling passenger agent of the Grand Trunk system, 

 who certainly provided well for our comfort en route. 



AT MOXTREAL. 



The first stop was made at Montreal, where we ar- 

 rived on the following morning. At the station we were 

 met by a committee of the Montreal Florists' and Gar- 

 deners' Club, composed of Ernest J. Haywood, Geo. M. 

 Robinson, James McKenna, Julius Luck, William Cot- 

 ter, and Mesdames Haywood. Smith and Robinson, and 

 became the guests of that .organization for the day. 

 Patrick Welch, of Boston, coming direct from his sum- 

 mer home at Old Orchard, Me., and A. T. De La Mare, 

 of New York, joined us here. 



Escorted to the Windsor Hotel a hearty breakfast 

 awaited us there, .\ftcr the inner man was well satis- 

 fied, James ^IcKenna, on behalf of the local club, wel- 

 comed us to Montreal with a few well chosen remarks. 

 to which President Farquhar, of the Society of American 

 Florists, fittingly responded. We were next taken on a 

 sight seeing trip about the city and an inspection of the 

 public parks in a special car, decorated emblematic of 

 the floral art. .\rriving about noon at Mt. Royal Park, 

 situated some eight hundred feet above the city's level, 

 we found a fine luncheon prepared for us. After par- 

 taking of it and after an exchange of compliments be- 

 tween hosts and guests, the trip on the special car was 

 resumed to Lachine where we embarked on board a 

 steamer for a trip through the rapids, which proved 

 most interesting and exciting. Returning to Montreal 

 for dinner, we later in the evening returned to our train 

 and were tendered a most cordial send-ofif by the Mon- 

 treal friends who had escorted us back to the station. 

 They were truly representative of the "prince of good 

 fellows." 



UE.SL'MING OI'R JOURNEY. 



Leaving Montreal on -Saturday night, we arrived at 

 Toronto early on Sunday where we had some opportunitv 

 for sight seeing. Here a private diner and club car was 

 attached to the "presidential special" for our comfort on 

 the trip through Canada. From Toronto we proceeded 

 to Niagara Falls, where F. R. Pier.son, of Tarrytown, 

 N. Y.. became a member of the party. Special cars 

 awaited us for a trip around the Niagara gorge. Re- 

 turning to our train early in the afternoon we continued 

 on our journey thrntigh a rich farming and fruit sec- 

 tion of the Canadian country and arrived at London, 



Ont., early in the evening, where another stop was made. 

 At this place the welfare of the party was entrusted to 

 Mr. Welch by the Grand Trunk representative, who 

 parted from us there, not, however, before confiding to 

 us that the train de lu.xe placed at our command was 

 secured in a large measure through the efforts of Patrick- 

 Welch. 



Having several hours at our disposal, some of our 

 party became guests of James B. Shea, who claimed ac- 

 quaintanceship at London. While there a discussion of 

 comparative pleasantries was indulged in respecting the 

 present with past convention trips, the old timers among 

 us agreeing that the 1913 convention trip of the Bos- 

 tonians had never been surpassed in genuine comfort 

 and enjoyment. 



From London we continued to Chicago, where the 

 newly appointed charge d'affaires of the "presidential 

 special," ^Ir. Welch, announced, "Here everybody cares 

 for himself." We separated for the day — some bent on 

 sight seeing, others to attend to business — but met again 

 in the evening, when the private cars of the Boston, New 

 York and Chicago parties were united in one special 

 train, arriving in Minneapolis the following morning a 

 happy and contented delegation. 



MINNEAPOLIS. 



The eyes of all easterners who were on their first 

 visit to this wonderful city were opened to the progress 

 made in the northwest in a comparatively few years. 

 Prosperity was apparent in all directions. The general 

 lay-out of the city, the fine buildings, the public service 

 equipment, such as the lighting and trolleys, the beauti- 

 ful boulevards and lakes, under the control of the park 

 system (probably not surpassed anywhere), all these at- 

 tracted attention, and offered many suggestions for irn- 

 provement in the older cities. 



The spirit of the people, which has produced this ideal 

 city of the northwest, is expressed in the message just 

 received from Mr. Wirth, saying "I am glad to learn that 

 our city made such a favorable impression on all our 

 visitors, and I know for a fact that every citizen here in 

 Minneapolis would gladly welcome all those who were 

 here as citizens in our community." 



.A.fter locating at our various hotels we prepared to 

 the convention headquarters, where another surprise 

 awaited us in the nature of the outdoor exhibit. 



THE OUTDOOR EXHIBIT. 



Under the personal supervision of Theodore Wirth, 

 superintendent of the Minneapolis Park system, a waste 

 land of a few months ago, which surrounded the armory 

 in which the' convention was to be held, was turned into 

 a veritable paradise. Beautiful gardens, brilliant in col- 

 ors and effect, had been created on each side of the build- 

 ing, while in front of it plots were laid out in gorgeous 

 flower beds. It was an innovation to the visiting mem- 

 bers of the Society of American Florists, and to whom 

 it soon became evident, by the interest displayed in these 

 gardens bv the outside public, that the outdoor exhibit 

 is a valuable adjunct to the usual trade exhibits. From 

 the general comment heard it is quite safe to state that 

 outdoor yjlantings will be an important feature of future 

 conventions, and our florists and nurserymen will, no 

 doubt, take a keener interest when such an exhibit is 

 again attempted. 



THE S. A. F. CONVENTION. 



W'hile not as largely attended as some of the Eastern 

 conventions, the Minneapolis convention was a decided 

 success from the business point of view, and this should 

 be the im]xirtant factor governing all conventions. The 

 hospitality of the Minneapolis florists, however, will not 



