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June 24, 1920 



The Florists' Review 



23 



CXm Wrm^y^ READEHB 



WANT TO SEE THE SOUTH? 



For the florists throughout the coun- 

 try I have been thinking for some time 

 of inaugurating an excursion during the 

 month of March next year through 

 Texas and other southern states. Be- 

 fore going too far into details, I should 

 like to have an expression of opinion 

 from florists in different sections who 

 would be interested. The object of this 

 excursion would be to familiarize the flo- 

 rists of the country with Texas and the 

 south in general and to let them know 

 what we have in this section, in order 

 that they may thoroughly understand 

 the wonderful possibilities of our great 

 southland. 



While we have not gone into details, 

 I have given some thought to the matter 

 and should suggest that we make up a 

 special train, leaving some central point, 

 possibly Cleveland, 0., which will be a 

 good mobilizing point for florists from 

 the east and also for those around De- 

 troit and Chicago, and then take up the 

 florists in St. Louis and add to our party 

 as we go. 



It strikes me that this would be a 

 great opportunity for an excursion com- 

 posed exclusively of florists and allied 

 tradesmen to enjoy a wonderful trip 

 during the month that affords great pos- 

 sibilities to see the country at the time 

 of the year when climatic conditions are 

 ideal and the florists can get away. 



I suggest the following itinerary: 

 Cleveland to St. Louis; St. Louis to Kan- 

 sas City; Kansas City to Oklahoma 

 City; Oklahoma City to Dallas; Dallas 

 to Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, San An- 

 tonio, Houston, Galveston, Corpus 

 Christi and Brownsville. Return trip 

 could be made via New Orleans and, if 

 arrangements justify, through Atlanta, 

 Ga. 



This is a tentative proposition. Are 

 you interested? Have you any sugges- 

 tions to makef I should be pleased to 

 hear from as many as possible by the 

 time the Texas State Florists* Associa- 

 tion meets in Fort Worth, July 21 and 

 22. This move will be sponsored by the 

 association if sufficient interest is shown. 



We have nothing to sell you and there 

 is nothing behind this move except the 

 desire to show you our country. By 

 {joing in a party and on a special train, 

 the expenses would be materially re- 

 duced. 



Please let me hear from you at the 

 earliest possible moment. 



Robert C. Kerr. 



EXPENSIVE EXPRESS SERVICE. 



Experience is expensive, especially 

 when it involves hundreds of dollars 

 in plants, loss of time, stock and the 

 delay consequent thereto. 



This year I have lost no less than 

 $500 worth of plants wholly because of 

 the exceedingly poor express service 

 from the north and east. Practically 

 every order that was sent to me by ex- 

 press has been a total, or practically a 

 total, loss, due either to delay or to 

 rough treatment, but mostly to delay. 



One large order came through in good 

 time, but was so roughly handled that 

 it was practically a total loss, for all 

 that I have of that order is a few 

 small, sickly plants and they were per- 

 fectly good when they were shipped. 



Another order was shipped in two 

 lots. One lot was in transit sixteen 

 days and the other fourteen days. Both 

 were a total loss when received. The 

 shipment was ordered sent by parcel 

 post, special delivery. I stated in the 

 order that the express service was so 

 poor that I did not want to risk it. I 

 sent the money with the order to cover 

 what I believed the parcel post charges 

 would be, stating that I would send 

 more if necessary. The shipping orders 

 were willfully and totally ignored and 

 the shipment sent by express, with the 

 results stated. The company from 

 which they were bought stated, in re- 

 ply to my letter asking why they were 

 not forwarded as requested, that they 

 were obliged to ship by express after 

 May 1, as stated in their catalogue. I 

 did not have their catalogue, but or- 

 dered from their advertisement. 



It seems to me that, regardless of 

 what the firm may say in its catalogue, 

 when goods are sent at the purchaser's 

 risk he has the right and the privilege 

 to order them shipped as he may wish 

 and may so request; that the failure of 

 the shipper to comply with the pur- 

 chaser's request would make him liable 

 for damages. 



The express service has surely 

 worked a severe and expensive loss and 

 has been a source of embarrassment 

 to my business and to my profits, 

 not to mention the worry and trouble 

 caused thereby. Therefore it has oc- 

 curred to me that it might be possible 

 to have the express company devise 

 satisfactory systems of special delivery 

 and insurance for perishable goods, 

 especially plants, flowers and like ma- 

 terials, which would materially improve 

 the delivery service and eliminate the 

 slow, costly and unsatisfactory settle- 

 ments of claims. 



I, for one, would certainly be glad 

 and more than willing to pay the nec- 

 essary extra charges for such service, 

 if it can be had. It would certainly 

 be far less expensive and much more 

 satisfactory to all concerned, it would 

 seem to me. However, while the ex- 

 press company may be to blame, I ap- 

 preciate, partially at least, the handi- 

 caps that they are laboring under, due 

 to conditions existing at present. 



The opinions of other florists on this 

 subject would be much appreciated. 

 Rider M. Johnson. 



USINGEE'S UTTERANCES. 



The Janesville Floral Co., Janesville, 

 Wis., reports an excellent plant trade 

 for this spring. It has a field of fine 

 peonies in bloom. 



Charles Rathjen, Janesville, Wis., will 

 market 500,000 Chadwick chrysanthe- 

 mum cuttings, in which variety he spe- 

 cializes. 



The Burlington Floral Co., Burlington, 

 Wis., has enjoyed a busy season in all 

 branches of the trade. 



D. R. White, Sandusky, O., has taken 

 his son, Morley, into the business. Mr. 

 White has spoken of retiring, but the 

 son's entry into the business will con- 

 tinue this well established greenhouse. 



AFTER COAL PROFITEERS. 



Palmer Orders Drive. 



Instructions to seek indictments 

 wherever investigation warrants such 

 action against coal miners were given 

 out June 17 by Attorney-General Pal- 

 mer, carrying a ray of hope to green- 

 house men who saw no possibility of 

 being able to buy at prices quoted. 



"The department of justice," said 

 Mr. Palmer's instructions, "is receiv- 

 ing a number of letters in which com- 

 plaint is made that bituminous coal 

 prices at the mines now range from 

 $7 to $11 a ton, with a further increase 

 imminent. 



"Production cost figures show that 

 during January, 1920, their costs per 

 ton averaged $2.32 at the mines. Since 

 then there has been an increase of 

 twenty-seven per cent in the cost of 

 labor, enhancing the production cost to 

 $2.79 per ton. 



"This situation demands the prompt 

 attention of all United States attor- 

 neys. Please give special attention to 

 the matter and seek indictments where 

 investigation discloses that an unreas- 



onable profit has been taken, advising 

 the department of the action taken." 



Coal Trade Admits It. 



The leading journal of the coal trade 

 last week headed its editorial page with 

 an acknowledgment of profiteering in 

 that industry and a condemnation of 

 those who engaged in that practice. 

 The editorial read in part: 



"Again the Black Diamond is com- 

 pelled to take notice of the unwar- 

 ranted high prices which a small minor- 

 ity of operators is charging for coal. 

 We hear of $10 and $11 prices being 

 demanded and obtained for coal going 

 into the off-shore trade. There is no 

 condition, no matter how bad, that 

 would justify such a practice. 



"The Black Diamond has sympathy 

 for those operators who are attempting 

 to produce coal under present condi- 

 tions, when production too frequently 

 entails a loss, but no operator can main- 

 tain the position that he must charge 

 as high as $10 a ton in order to make 

 ends meet. If the case is as bad as 

 that, far better that he close down his 

 operation entirely and turn the cars 

 over to such mines as can produce coal 

 at a lower figure." 



