Flower Shows as Business Promoters 



The First Xational Bank of Jolict. 111., luM its tirst 

 annual flower show on June 10, 11 and 12. 



In the May number of The Banker (the house organ 

 of the First National) which is sent out to 12,000 

 homes in Will county, there was an announcement of 

 the flower show, inviting- everyone to attend and to 

 exhibit any flowers they might have growing in 

 their gardens. In this announcement the iifter of the 

 ])rizes was made. The four first prizes were silver 

 trophy cups for the best exhibits of three red peonies, 

 three white peonies, three pink peonies and the best col- 

 lection of irises. The four second prizes in these classes 

 were full year subscriptions to The Gardeners' Chron- 

 icle OF Americw. The general conditions that governed 

 the contest were also stated, namely, that all flowers 

 shown in competition must have been grown in \\ ill 

 county by the exhibitor; that no exhiliitor could take 

 more than one prize. 



publisher of I'lu' American 



n the nicirning of June 10 

 color with artistically ar- 

 irises, carnations, garden 



W'illanl Clute. editor and 

 Botanist, acted as judge. 



When the show opened < 

 the bank was gorgeous in 

 ranged masses of peonies, 

 and hot house roses, pansies, gladioluses, sweet peas 

 and phlox grouped in the center and along the sides 

 of the banking room. Large jars filled with peonies 

 were arranged along the balcony railing and on top 

 of the cages. Down the length of the banking room 

 stood a taljle on which were close to seventy-five ex- 

 hibits of i)eonies and irises entered in competiti(.)n. 



The exhibits of the six florists of the city played no 

 small part in the success of the show. Each was dis- 

 tinctive and inili\idual. 



For three days crowds of people came and went, 

 many returning with their friends and members of 

 their families. The officers were in constant attend- 

 ance making friends with the visitors. Every day in- 

 teresting novelties in plants and floral pieces were 

 brought in and the spent flowers were replaced by 

 fresh ones. The show brought such crowds of people 

 to the bank, and the interest of the community in the 

 show was so strong that it was decided to make it an 

 annual affair. From a publicity point of view the 

 bank has never attemjited anything that was more 

 successful. 



Thousands inspected the flower show which was 

 held on Saturday, Jinie 12, at the Second National 

 iJank, Paterson, N. J., under the auspices of the Pater- 

 son Floricultural Society. Hundreds of magnificent 

 blooms were exhibited and a great deal of interest was 

 shown in the awarding of prizes. The judges were: 

 James McCollom, superintendent of the public parks; 

 Arthur N'escelius, florist, and Thomas Heminsley, a 

 grower. The entire display was under the manage- 

 ment of Wessels \'an Blarcom, assistant cashier of the 

 bank. 



The flower shows which are given at the Second 

 National Bank are the result of a suggestion made by 

 Mr. \'an Blarcom two or three years ago that the 

 Paterson Floricultural Society bring in some of their 

 best blooms for the benefit of those who mav lo\'e to 

 ook at flowers, but arc not especially fortunate in 

 growing them. ( )nce started, the shows have con- 

 tinued. In the spring- roses and peonies, with such 

 other flowers as exhibitors choose to bring in. Again 

 in the I-"all dahlias and other Fall flowers, with chrys- 

 anthemums to close the season. Thousands of visi- 

 tors go in to see the blooms and a considerable pro- 

 iirtion of them go away determined that the\" will 

 .^row flowers themselves next )'ear. The Paterson 

 l'"loricultural Society is made up of enthusiasts in 

 tlural culture and they have given freely of their 

 lime and influence to make these shows a 



UPPER PICTURE— CORNER OF BANKING ROOM, FIRST NATIONAL HANK, JOLIET, ILLS. LOWER PICTURE— F.ANKINC, ROOM, 



SECOND NATIONAL BANK, PATERSON, N. J. 



