14 



The Florists' Review 



January 2, 1919. 



and to get into conference with the 

 growers as to the varieties of stock to 

 be grown. In a few cities cooperation 

 of the wholesalers has shown excellent 

 results already. 



The retailers are, no doubt, the best 

 organized of the three branches, since 

 the splendid work of the Florists' Tele- 

 graph Delivery Association has so nobly 

 helped to bind the retailers together for 

 our common cause. May they continue 

 to prosper, and the retailers locally take 

 more advantage by becoming still more 

 strongly united. The S. A. F. stands 

 ready to help any branch of the trade 

 to become more eflScient. We have the 

 means and the ability to assist you. 

 Let us help solve your problems and 

 put floriculture on the high plane where 

 it belongs. 



We are now entering an era of broth- 

 erly love never before shown in the 

 history of the world. Never did men's 

 hearts go out to one another so much 

 as now. The spirit of America for 

 humanity and world democracy prevails 

 everywhere, and as men's hearts grow 

 larger the world seems smaller. The 



light held aloft by the statue of Lib- 

 erty shines the world over. Let us have 

 for our reconstruction program the 

 slogan, "Competitive cooperation for 

 the best interests of all." 



Tbe Camatioii Society. 



The annual meeting of the American 

 Carnation Society takes place in Cleve- 

 land, January 29 and 30, 1919. This is 

 one of the live-wire affiliated organiza- 

 tions of the S. A. F. I understand all 

 members of the society are invited to 

 join with them in a Victory love-feast. 

 So, as many as possibly can should plan 

 to be present. These get-together meet- 

 ings mean so much for our future prog- 

 ress. 



To the dear ladies of our sister so- 

 ciety, we too extend hearty greetings. 

 May they continue in the good work 

 of making our annual gatherings more 

 sociable, pleasant and inspiring by their 

 presence. May God bless the ladies for 

 their service in the great struggle for 

 humanity through their noble work in 

 the Eed Cross and other humanitarian 

 activities. 



BUCKEYE BULL'S-EYES 



'm 



CHRISTMAS BUSINESS. 



The Christmas business of 1918 was 

 in many respects the most peculiar on 

 record. It followed a ten weeks' period 

 of epidemic in which the angel of death 

 visited many thousands of homes 

 throughout the country, compelling the 

 use of flowers in the expression of sor- 

 row to a degree unprecedented in the 

 entire history of the trade. Few indeed 

 were the circles of friends or relation- 

 ships that escaped. Following the 

 virtual close of the war by the signing 

 of the armistice, the cancellation of 

 heavy government business, seriously 

 checking industry, created a feeling of 

 uncertainty in the ranks of a vast army 

 of workers, forcing it to heavily curtail 

 its lavish expenditure of money. The 

 demoralization in the sources of pro- 

 duction caused by the federal fuel re- 

 strictions, operating to interrupt the 

 customary timing of crops, made flow- 

 ers scarce in December when the natural 

 demand, augmented by a great advertis- 

 ing campaign, required an abnormally 

 large output. Amid these powerful in- 

 fluences, the holiday season came, 

 and, despite the adverse influences, a 

 greater amount of money than ever be- 

 fore spent for flowers has been garnered 

 by the trade. Perhaps no better com- 

 ment might be made upon the stability 

 of a profession. Mac. 



enee was well worth the increased ef- 

 fort and the knowledge gained will re- 

 main a permanent asset. The smaller 

 tradesmen felt the effect of the higher 

 prices to a degree detrimental to their 

 immediate interests, but persistence in 

 allowing themselves a margin of profit 

 vitally necessary to their business in- 

 tegrity will win out for them eventu- 

 ally. Prices of flowers have hitherto 

 been absurdly low compared with the 

 cost of their production and the trade 

 stands in greater need of drilling in this 

 particular, perhaps, than in any other. 

 While the taking of unjust profits will 

 start tongues wagging against us, in this 

 day of trial for grower and retailer 

 alike, if the importance of a legitimate 

 degree of gain is lost sight of, breakers 

 of a serious nature will be encountered 

 in the near distance. Mac. 



THE HIGH PRICES. 



Much has been said anent the high 

 values of flowers, in common with the 

 advanced price of every other article 

 for which the demand is greater than 

 the supply. Undoubtedly many people 

 of moderate circumstances were pre- 

 vented from buying flowers on that ac- 

 count, but the same might be said of 

 numerous other things in everyday use. 

 A better g^ade of salesmanship was re- 

 quired to move goods, but the experi- 



CHRISTMAS GOODS. 



The high prices of plants and flowers 

 were partially responsible for the ab- 

 normally heavy sale of Christmas 

 greens, wreaths and prepared goods. 

 Although heavy preparations were 

 made, the supply of stock of this kind 

 was tremendously inadequate to the de- 

 mand. One small florist, in a favorable 

 location, declared he could have sold 

 500 more wreaths and moderately priced 

 baskets made up of such materials as 

 ruscus, boxwood, laurel, lycopodium and 

 holly. Although the principal stores 

 featured combination plant baskets 

 largely, prepared stock and accessories 

 occupied a conspicuous place in their 

 displays and assisted immeasurably in 

 making the places of business strik- 

 ingly attractive. Good holly was quite 

 scarce, as was also high-grade mistle- 

 toe. Mac. 



ried plants and ferns, was prepared for 

 the Christmas trade and was moved to 

 evident advantage. Azaleas, of course^ 

 were conspicuous by their absence, as 

 were also finely done pans of bulbous 

 stock. Although poinsettias were not 

 up to their usual standard of excellence, 

 some superb specimens were in evidence 

 and commanded good prices. Plant 

 growers were well rewarded for their 

 efforts this Christmas and it is to be 

 hoped that the increased returns will in- 

 duce them to enlarge their output for 

 next season. Mac. 



FANCY GRADES OF STOCK. 



Notwithstanding the unfavorably 

 warm weather, the quality of cut flow- 

 ers offered was especially good, both 

 in roses and carnations. In the former 

 the longer and fancy grades predomi- 

 nated, and even the smaller florists in 

 the remote districts bought them with 

 freedom. As usual, there was a greater 

 demand for shorter stock. Eastern vio- 

 lets sold at prices practically double 

 those of last year, but the call for them 

 showed slight diminution. Fancy Rus- 

 sells and Beauties from distant markets 

 arrived in fine condition and were 

 scarcely sufficient to meet the demand. 

 Well grown, long-stemmed buddleia was 

 also available and proved popular. 

 More choice double stevia was used 

 than ever before. Cut poinsettias were 

 in moderate supply, but of good quality 

 and were eagerly sought by discriminat- 

 ing buyers. Small flowers for corsages 

 were in good request and the call for 

 them, including orchids, suggested a re- 

 turn to old times. Mac. 



MEAI.Y BUG ON PAT.MR. 



Will you kindly advise me what to 

 do for mealy bug on the roots of palms t 

 The bugs are at the surface of the 

 ground and go clear through the ball of 

 soil. Is there anvthing I can do and not 

 harm the plants? J. W. I.— 111. 



The safest method of cleaning mealy 

 bugs from the roots of palms is to wash 

 out the roots with a strong stream of 

 water from a nozzle. A pressure of 

 fifty to sixty pounds per square inch 

 is a good force to work with and will 

 clean out both the soil and bugs in short 

 order. Do not expose the roots to the 

 sun or allow them to dry out, but repot 

 just as soon as the washing is com- 

 pleted. Keep the plants in a night 

 temperature of 60 to 65 degrees, and be 

 careful that they are properly watered 

 after repotting. The plants should not 

 suffer any injury from the operation. 



W. H. T. 



CTJIiTTTRE OF CANDYTUFT. 



Please advise me when to plant candy- 

 tuft so it will bloom for Memorial day. 

 W. D. H. M.— Mass. 



PLANTS SOLD WELL. 



A splendid supply of choice plants, 

 consisting of begonias, cyclamens, ber- 



The last week in January I find th» 

 best time to sow candytuft for Me- 

 morial day. As to varieties, any of the- 

 mammoth strains may be grown. I 

 have found Mammoth White Perfectiott 

 fine. This crop, if it can be flowered 

 just right, pays remarkably well. When 

 well advai^ced, the plants will stand 

 considerable forcing, provided the glass 

 is shaded a little. This treatment is 

 necessary only when the crop seems- 

 to be late. C. W. 



