14 



The Florists^ Review 



FBBauABX 8, 1917. 



fancy stock grown at his establishment 

 is not put up in bunches, as is the jjoorer 

 grade, and that it was a bad method 

 with good stock. 



A. Easraussen stated his opinion that 

 cheap sales do the greatest damage, 

 along with the small grower who tries 

 to produce quantity, not quality, and 

 sells the product at retail at a lower 

 figure than good stock is worth at whole- 

 sale. He admitted, however, that lo- 

 cality makes a difference, such condi- 

 tions perhaps not being met with every- 

 where. 



Fred E. Dorner's views were that a 

 better and closer selection of new va- 

 rieties should be made and that pack- 

 ing and grading constitute a big item. 



Charles S. Strout differed with Mr. 

 Clarke, saying that the demand in his 

 locality is growing rapidly and that the 

 prices are good. He believes that the 

 cheap sale conducted on the right plan 

 is beneficial. He said that he makes 

 special effort to let the people know 

 when they are offering a bargain. This 

 stock, which is the best on the place, is 

 sold at 25 cents per dozen for one day 

 only. It is not boxed or delivered and 

 is sold strictly on a cash basis. The 

 following day the price is back to 75 

 cents or $1, whatever the case may be. 

 He believes that this method has in- 

 creased the popularity of the carnation 

 in his locality. At other times, when 

 surplus stock is on hand, two hospitals 

 and an old ladies' home have furnished 

 an excellent outlet and the gifts were 

 gratefully received. 



A. F. J. Baur said he spoke merely 

 from observation, as he sells his crop 

 directly to the stores instead of through 

 an agent and the largest part of the con- 

 sumption is local. His belief is that 

 most of the abuse of flowers happens in 

 the retail establishments, through not 

 giving this flower the proper care, as is 

 given the rose. 



R. B. Hayes seemed to think that car- 

 nations are marketed too soon after pick- 

 ing, saying that they should remain in 

 water from eighteen to twenty hours in 

 order to be well water-soaked. He stated 

 that he has had good results by leaving 

 them in water two or three days, while 



he has suffered from marketing freshly 

 cut stock. 



J. F. Ammann was of the opinion that 

 it is a case of every man to his place — 

 a good man for growing and a good man 

 for grading, not a boy, but a man pro- 

 ficient in his line. If this course were 

 pursued, stock would reach the market 

 in much better condition. 



A. J. Guttma'n vehemently declared 

 that the demand for good carnations is 

 growing in his locality. He feels that 

 ignorance on the part of the venders 

 causes careless handling. He feels con- 

 fident that in the near future a closer co- 

 operation between grower and retailer 

 will be effected, which will be of benefit 

 to both. 



J. W. Rodgers also was of the opinion 

 that grading is an important factor 

 and that the setting of the prices should 

 be left to the grower, the commission 

 merchant and retailer governing them- 

 selves accordingly. C. Hagenburger 

 agreed perfectly with this idea. 



W. J. Vesey, Jr., seemed to think 

 some wholesale customers are chronic 

 complainers, that kind being in the mi- 

 nority, however. He said-he has adopted 

 a system of postcards, which he places 

 with every invoice sheet sent out, ask- 

 ing for a report on the condition in 

 which the stock arrived. The consignee 

 is asked merely to write one word, yes 

 or no, with his name, and to mail the 

 card. These are put on file and at the 

 end of the year are looked over to find 

 who are the satisfied customers and who 

 are not. He found this experiment so 

 successful that he has installed it in all 

 of his departments. 



George Gause insisted that harmony 

 is what is needed — harmony between 

 growers, commission men and retailers. 

 If this were accomplished a better mar- 

 ket would follow. W. W. Coles believed 

 that supply and demand should regulate 

 the price. 



The discussion closed as the judges 

 returned with the premium for the best 

 keeping vase of carnations, which was 

 awarded to Hartje & Elder, of Indian- 

 apolis. This firm broke the record, tak- 

 ing three firsts on only two entries, one 



of fifty White Enchantress and on^ of 

 fifty Washington. 



A discussion arose as to who is re- 

 sponsible for goods shipped, the shipper 

 or the consignee. This subject being a 

 large one, it was barely touched upon, 

 and, seeing that no satisfactory conclu- 

 sion was in sight, adjournment was 

 asked for and agreed upon. 



Routine Affairs. 



The committee appointed to pass on 

 the reports of officers was as follows: 

 S. J. Goddard, Framingham, Mass.; C. 

 W. Johnson, Morgan Park, lU.; John 

 H. Dunlop, Toronto, Ont. 



In the matter of the preliminary com- 

 petition for the Dorner Memorial medal 

 a recommendation was made to reduce 

 the number of blooms required, but the 

 decision was that the number remain 

 fifty, instead of being reduced to twen- 

 ty-five. 



The secretary was authorized to con- 

 tinue the identification badge. Prof. 

 Dorner moved that the names in these 

 badges be typewritten rather than by 

 hand, which was approved. 



A committee of three on final resolu- 

 tions was appointed: J. W. Eodgers, of 

 Dayton, O.; J. H. Dick, of New York, 

 and Prof. H- B. Dorner, of Urbana, 111., 

 the report to be heard at the close of 

 the banquet. 



The question of the similarity of the 

 old variety. Beacon, and a variety dis- 

 tributed to a limited extent in the east 

 last season under the name of Red Wing, 

 was brought up. Although several as- 

 serted that the two varieties are prac- 

 tically identical, an equal number de- 

 clared that as far as color and form 

 of bloom are concerned they are similar, 

 but that Red Wing is a more robust 

 grower, growing taller, having a 

 stronger calax and not splitting so 

 badly. The matter was referred to a 

 committee which will be appointed by 

 the incoming president, as the society 

 stands to discountenance the renaming 

 of old varieties or the introduction of 

 too-much-alike varieties under different 

 names. 



A. J. Guttman asked to have the new 

 variety^ Olive Whitman, rejudged for 



Annual Banquet of the American Carnation Society, Qaypool Hotel, Indianapolis, February I, 19 J 7. 



