HORTICULTURE 



VoL XXXI 



APRIL 24, 1920 



No. 17 



THE TALK OF THE TRADE 



Mr. B. F. Letson, of Carbone's 

 Flower Store in Boston, is making 

 quite a reputation by his tallis on 

 artistic flower arrangement, in the 

 course of which he illustrates the prin- 

 ciples which he sets forth. Not long 

 ago he talked at the home of Mrs. 

 Robert F. Clark, in Boston, for the 

 Xew England Branch of the Women's 

 National Farm and Garden Associa- 

 tion, and on April 14, he gave another 

 demonstration lecture for the New 

 York members of the association at 

 the home of Mrs. J. W. Lancashire, 

 New York City. Mr. Leston shows 

 how to effectively arrange different 

 varieties of flowers in holders of vari- 

 ous kinds, and also gives demonstrar 

 tions of first aid to wilted flowers. 

 This is a good way for a florist to get 

 his business advertised, and especially 

 if he deals in pottery and vases of 

 many kinds, as does Oarbone. It seems 

 as though it might be an excellent 

 plan for the Florists' Association of 

 Boston or the Gardeners' and Florists' 

 Club to get Mr. Letson to give his lec- 

 ture for them, possibly making it an 

 open meeting and inviting the public. 

 In this way all of the florists would be 

 benefited. It is a matter of congratu- 

 lation to find women's clubs and other 

 organizations taking sufficient interest 

 in flowers and flower arrangement to 

 employ lecturers to give them the 

 benefit of their skill and experience. 



According to a Hartford, Conn., 

 paper, Joseph McManus, of the firm 

 of Spear & McManus, florists, has ac- 

 quired the property at 240-242 Asylum 

 street, the transaction involving, it is 

 said, $100,000. It is understood that 

 the building is to be remodeled to 

 meet the growing business of Spear & 

 McManus, and that a conservatory Is 

 to be established on the second floor. 

 Mr. McManus, in charge of the busi- 

 ness, says that his shop is to be made 

 one of the most attractive and best 

 appointed in New England. 



greatly increased the orders for sup- 

 plies of many kinds. This applies even 

 to thread, and the John C. Meyer 

 Thread Co., of Lowell, Mass., has been 

 having a big trade. The Meyer Green 

 Florists' Threads have become an in- 

 stitution among the florists, having 

 been used for at least 50 years. This 

 is a concern which has always lived 

 up to its reputation for making thread 

 of full length and full strength, for 

 which reason this thread is known to 

 the trade the country over. The John 

 C. Meyer Thread Works is a very busy 

 place just at this time. 



aiul Ricard are very short, and 2Vi- 

 inch stock now, even if it is late, is 

 very good value as they can be worked 

 into 3%-inch pots for early June and 

 bring just as much as some of the 

 early 4-inch stock. 



Everybody doing a bedding plant 

 business must at this time have on 

 hi? mind the matter of Geraniums. As 

 was predicted repeatedly since last 

 fall. Geraniums are in short supply, 

 and from present indications the retail 

 price will run close to 35c. each for 

 well grown 4-lnch stock. Four-inch 

 plants are selling at an average of 20c. 

 each, and there are not too many 

 around. The one variety which is in 

 heaviest supply is S. A. Nutt, but there 

 is no doubt that every one offered 

 will be picked up quickly. Poitevine 



Speaking of bedding plants, it is 

 only fair to say that all stock in that 

 lii.e is moving well. There is a big 

 demand and the indications point to a 

 spring business never before equalled. 

 Fuchsias, Petunias, Heliotrope, Salvia, 

 Ageratum and stock of this character 

 is in fair supply and looking around at 

 the different ranges of glass, particu- 

 larly those who do their own retail 

 business, I find excellent quality. Of 

 course everybody is planning on a 

 good Memorial Day trade, and I hope 

 that the expectations of all are real- 

 ized. There is a mighty fine lot of 

 cut flowers that will be available for 

 that day. Indoor Gladioli will be com- 

 ing along nicely at that time, and the 

 retailers are all well pleased that they 

 can figure on Lilies this season, some- 

 thing that was sadly missed last year. 

 Ten weeks' stocks. Candytuft and 

 Feverfew are also planted in large 

 quantities, and while there will by no 

 means be an oversupply. I feel sure 



The extensive business being done 

 by florists in all lines of the trade has 



G'ood Example of Flower Arrangement 



