November 16, 1912 



HORTICULTUEE 



673 



CLUBS AND SOCIETIES 



GARDENERS' AND FLORISTS' CLUB 

 OF BOSTON. 



On Monday evening, Nov. 11th, oc- 

 curred the celebration of the silver ju- 

 bilee of the Gardeners' and Florists' 

 Club of Boston, with a banquet, mu- 

 sic, speeches and a dance, at Horticul- 

 tural Hall. The weather was glorious, 

 the decorations lavish, the singers and 

 musicians accomplished, the banquet 

 sumptuous, the officials assiduous and 

 the speeches were full of life and 

 spirit. There must have been close to 

 400 present, all told, of whom fully 

 one-third were ladies. An atmosphere 

 of jubilation pervaded the assembly 

 and the affair was one of pleasure un- 

 alloyed from start to finish. A large 



Massachusetts" which was responded 

 to by Alex. McGregor of the Governor's 

 Council, who presented the greetings 

 of Governor Foss and made a most pa- 

 triotic, eloquent and flowery speech, 

 full of imagery and poetic sentiment. 

 Wm. J. Stewart was then introduced 

 as the first president of the club and 

 club historian. Mr. Stewart recounted 

 briefly the motives and incidents lead- 

 ing up to the formation of the club, 25 

 years ago last December at his flower 

 establishment in Bromfield street, its 

 rapid growth to a position of influence 

 in the horticulture of the entire coun- 

 try, the fraternal and social advantages 

 it had fostered and its cordial rela- 

 tionship with other similar bodies else- 

 where, expressing the hope that the 

 prosperity now enjoyed might be con- 

 tinued and enhanced. 



anything laid up for a rainy day it is 

 because of the rose. A communication 

 from Philip Breitmeyer, president ot 

 the American Carnation Society, hav- 

 ing been received pleading engage- 

 ments at home and regrets at inabil- 

 ity to attend, Peter Fisher responded 

 for his pet society instead. Mr. Fisher 

 spoke of "Phil" as a man who carries 

 sunshine wherever he goes, "whom to 

 know is to love." He congratulated 

 the rose men on their progress but 

 thought that carnation was destined 

 to continue the flower of the people. 

 He paid a high compliment to Mr. Pat- 

 ten's new carnation, Princess Dagmar, 

 which he admitted made it necessary 

 that he should look out for his own 

 laurels. Then President Parker re- 

 sponded briefly for the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society and was followed 



Silver Jubilee, Garue.xeks' a.\d Florists' Club of Boston 



part of the plant exhibits from the 

 show which closed the preceding even- 

 ing had been left to do duty as deco- 

 rations on this occasion and they 

 formed a rare background all about 

 the big exhibition hall where the tables 

 were spread. Floral adornments in- 

 cluded such prime novelties as Mont- 

 gomery's rose, Mrs. Charles Russell, 

 and Patten's crimson carnation. Prin- 

 cess Dagmar. Wm. Sim donated a 

 huge bunch of violets for each of the 

 ladies accompanying invited guests. 

 The lecture hall was reserved fo;' the 

 dancing, which began at 10 o'clock on 

 the conclusion of the speeches. Vice- 

 President W. J. Kennedy occupied the 

 chair and, after a brief word of wel- 

 come and congratulation introduced 

 Walter Ballantine of the Boston City 

 Council as toastmaster. The first 

 toast was "The Commonwealth of 



J. Otto Thilow, president of the 

 Frorists' Club of Philadelphia was then 

 called upon to speali for the Florists' 

 Clubs of America. Mr. Thilow paid a 

 fine tribute to the work and influence 

 of the florists' clubs, and the frater- 

 nal spirit which these organizations 

 have installed. His text was the in- 

 spiration and independence and stimu- 

 lating atmosphere which has resulted 

 from the principle of co-operation ap- 

 plied to the florist business. It was a 

 well-prepared and thoughtful address 

 and we hope to present it more fully 

 in a later issue after the flower shows 

 have ceased their demand upon our 

 space. A. Farenwald next responded 

 for the American Rose Society. Mr. 

 Farenwald never made a finer address. 

 He asserted that the rose is the main- 

 stay of the profession and claimed 

 that if anv members of the craft have 



by Secretary W. N. Craig as spokes- 

 man for the ladies, a subject which 

 that gentleman handled in a masterly 

 and impressive manner, admitting that 

 he loves the ladies, always did and al- 

 ways will, asserting that the women's 

 suffrage plank was insti-umental in 

 making him a "Bull Moose" and quot- 

 ing Scott, Burns and others in per- 

 suasive proof of his principles and 

 convictions as regards the fair sex. 

 A congratulatory telegram from Thos. 

 Pegler was received with applause. 

 Then the chairman announced "On 

 with the dance," and soon the merry 

 whirl was on, lasting until midnight. 

 Between the speeches most delight- 

 ful musical numbers were contributed 

 by Miss Katherine Singer, pianist; 

 Miss Ella Edmonds, soprano; Miss J. 

 A. Corson, violinist, and Mr. Jafi. 

 Singer, baritone, and Hutchins' orches- 



