December 7, 1918 



HOBTIflTJLTUBl 



557 



down of many who feared the worst. 

 "With this menace prevalent throughout 

 the country, there was an vinprece- 

 dented demand for flowers, almost al- 

 together on account of the prevailing 

 epidemic which came upon us with ap- 

 palling results. For such needs, flow- 

 ers will and must be used. Many were 

 glad even for this excuse, to go into 

 the flower shop uncriticised, otherwise 

 it would be considered luxury as 

 against the needs of the Red Cross and 

 other l>enevoIence to alleviate the 

 sufferings of war. The strain occa- 

 sioned by the war has had an eighteen 

 month's duration, but strenuous dur- 

 ing that period. 



While the labor is by no means set- 

 tled, nor would any florist of good 

 judgment insist on his full supply of 

 fuel, as he has already prepared for 

 the conditions, (and changes cannot be 

 made instantly), while there is less 

 than 50 per cent of efficient labor ob- 

 tainable, the florist, like the house- 

 holder, or other lines of business, has 

 learned many points of efficiency in 

 curtailing. Some of these were thought 

 impossible until tried. Expansion un- 

 thought of, except repairs which are 

 necessary. Economy at all points, in 

 the household, and even to clothing for 

 the person. What has he profited un- 

 der these extreme conditions? 



We venture a prophecy; economy 

 will redown to great gain when the 

 usual activity begins. He has learned 

 to take into account many items and 

 methods of operation never tried be- 

 fore, (one of the greatest assets.) 

 Knowing the value o£ material he will 

 construct only to the extent that high 

 labor costs and his own working abil- 

 ity will permit, and will be better able 

 to cope with the periods of business 

 slumps which come without war. 

 They are called financial crises; in- 

 deed dome wiseacres have already 

 prophesied and they may be thought- 

 lessly correct, and in this, the whole 

 community suffers; the florist feels it 

 first. 



Cost of production is seldem figured 

 accurately. It would be difficult to 

 estimate the cost of producing 1,000 

 or 10,000 roses for market at a tem- 

 perature of 40. as against that of 20, 

 over a period of one month. Experi- 

 ence during this strained period may 

 lead one to be more accurate than 

 ever, for such a problem. A large sup- 

 ply of first class stock with active mar- 

 ket at good prices, is the zenith of 

 profit; the same supply of same stock 

 during a glut, cuts down the profit of 

 the high priced market. 



Has the strain and the requirements 

 of curtailing voluntarily and by gov- 

 ernment demands taught us the lesson 

 by which we can profit? I am of the 



CARNATION 



FOR EARLY 



CUTTINGS 



DELIVERY 



P.4CKING AND BOXES WILL BE CH.4RGED FOR AT COST 



C. U. LIGGIT, 



Oflfice: 



I 335 BULLETIN BUILDLNO 

 Vl'HIL.\I>ELPIII.\, PENNA. 



opinion that the majority of florists 

 have noted many points in their opera- 

 tion, never resorted to before in their 

 whole business career, which will ul- 

 timately be a source of saving and 

 profit. 



The awakening of a consuming pub- 

 lic, after a period of depression when 

 all energy and time has been directed 

 to war needs, will demand greater in- 

 tensity, as the florist business is fos- 

 tered by the liberal patronage of the 

 public, comprised of the leaders in 

 benevolence and patriotism; this we 

 have experienced. They have not 

 thrown aside their interest in floricul- 

 ture. They will again turn to their 

 surroundings, and work among and 

 talk to their garden pets, as well 

 adorn the home with the rose and 

 what not. Even those who have suf- 

 fered losses, will not harbor their sad- 

 ness except with a sorrowing pride, 

 but they will not forget nature's prod- 

 uct: it is food for the soul. The lib- 

 eral patronage upon the return of 

 order out of chaos, will enhance to the 

 florist as much and more than to many 

 other lines. 



The florist who depends on his glass 

 and heat is not alone in this disturb- 

 ance. The nurseryman alike feels the 

 loss of trade severely, if he has been 

 importing, whether outside stock or 

 stock for under glass, he has been re- 

 stricted likewise. Operations have been 

 latent. But the same spirit that domi- 

 nates the home interior and all social 

 functions, is also a factor for the home 

 environment. The grounds of the es- 

 tablished estate, new operations for 

 new homes, all will need the attention 

 of the horticulturist, and so the awak- 

 ening comes to all alike. 



We count the past two years with 

 losses and a great strain upon our 

 vitality, not only the war and its cir- 

 cumstances, but we have gone through 

 the sorrows of a plague which has 

 reaped its victims, even greater than 

 the war casualties, and even now the 

 prospects are not altogether promising. 



but we must look beyond the sea, re- 

 flect a moment upon the losses among 

 our horticultural brethren, who have 

 seen their establishments shattered by 

 shot and shell, their all, even to their 

 immediate families, torn and vanish- 

 ing. What must be their hope and 

 prospect? The interdependence of 

 man so clearly manifests itself from 

 this conflict, such as the world never 

 saw or dreamed of. 



But, my friends, remember we have 

 given much In this struggle, and for 

 a great sacrifice must come great good. 

 In the war of the South, the recon- 

 struction lasted many years, because 

 their struggle failed, but in the re- 

 cent war of the World, and now hope- 

 fully finished, our land is yielding in 

 greater abundance every muscle of 

 those who labor, and with added thous- 

 ands who knew not what labor meant, 

 are now enjoying the bit they can do 

 to encourage mother earth to double 

 her yield, and many also taking the 

 places among machinery and indus- 

 trial lines, to produce what man power 

 did before entering into service, is go- 

 ing to awaken the prosperity of this 

 land, not menaced by the encroach- 

 ment of the enemy. With new vigor 

 and determined spirit to meet the new 

 era and dawn of prosperity, do not 

 forget that PEACE has come to all, 

 and VICTORY to us. 



COLD STORAGE 



Lily of the Valley 



Cases of 500—1500—1750 — $36.00 per 10©0 

 F. O. B. New York by Express 



Write for prices on Gladiolus, Canna 

 and Peony roots 



All of tlie Kood sorts. 



L. J. REUTER CO. 



Plant Brokers 



389 Wavcrly Oaks Road, Waltham, Mass. 



When writing to advertisers kindly 

 mention HORTICULTURE 



