22 



The Florists^ Review 



NOVBMBBB 27, 1919. 



extent that they should. The S. A. F. 

 should for next year ask every sub- 

 scriber to double his subscription and 

 I believe over ninety per cent of them 

 will do it gladly. Some men condemn 

 national advertising, yet the first pur- 

 chase they make is a nationally adver- 

 tised article, which they never would 

 have known had it not been for adver- 

 tising. 



We often hear the remark that we 

 must educate the public to the use of 

 flowers. But first of all let us educate 

 ourselves to the point where we thor- 

 oughly understand our own business. 

 Some years ago I expressed a thought 

 that the S. A. F. should start on a 

 campaign of education among the re- 

 tail florists. Have three days' sessions 

 at some central point and bring all the 

 florists from the neighboring cities to- 

 gether for an educational session. Show 

 them by actual demonstrations how to 

 link the national publicity campaign 

 with their own business. Teach them 

 anything new in the business, the cor- 

 rect margin of profit, the value of lo- 

 cal advertising, or any problem that 

 may be brought up for discussion. A 

 great deal' of good could be accom- 

 plished. The distribution, or rather the 

 selling, of flowers at retail is the all- 

 important feature of our business that 

 needs development. The production 

 will take care of itself. I will leave it 



to the progressiveness of the grower to 

 keep up with any effort made by the 

 retailer. 



Do Your Duty. 



In my talk I have wandered some- 

 what from the main point that I wish 

 to emphasize most strongly; that is, 

 no one can help you unless you are 

 willing to do it yourself. Our business 

 is in a healthy condition. The last sea- 

 son was undoubtedly one of the best 

 we have ever had, and the coming sea- 

 son looks promising to me. If we could 

 only arouse every one of our craft to 

 realize fully the wonderful opportu- 

 nities that exist today, greater oppor- 

 tunities than we have ever had in the 

 past, and urge every man to do his share 

 100 per cent, our business would grow 

 in leaps and bounds. Doing your duty 

 — that is the final answer. 



Only the wise and experienced or the 

 extremely young and inexperienced are 

 ready to express themselves with con- 

 fidence on any point. You may favor 

 a peace treaty today and have a 

 changed opinion three minutes hence. 

 You may be against prohibition today 

 and you have the privilege of changing 

 your views over night. 



But there can be no change of opin- 

 ion or difference of opinion in reference 

 to the fact that doing your duty is the 

 sure, short and quick road to success. 



NEW CEATE SPECIFICATIONS. 



For Vegetable Plants. 



New specifications for crates used in 

 shipping cabbage, tomato and sweet po- 

 tato plants were agreed upon at a con- 

 ference between manufacturers of 

 crates, plant growers and shippers, ex- 

 press officials and members of the Bu- 

 reau of Markets at Washington a few 

 days ago, which change specifications is- 

 sued by the American Railway Express 

 Co. some time ago. The express com- 

 pany had required plant crates to be 

 constructed of sawed lumber instead of 

 veneer, of a minimum thickness of five- 

 sixteenths of an inch instead of three- 

 sixteenths, but at the conference the 

 shippers and manufacturers prevailed 

 upon them to accept the lighter-weight 

 veneer crate for a six months' trial be- 

 ginning November 1, the crates to be 

 strapped or wired. At the end of that 

 time, if the express company continues 

 to find objections to the crate, another 

 conference will be held and another 

 agreement made. 



Specifications. 



The specifications agreed upon for the 

 six months follow: 



50o-pljv.\t crate. 



Dimensions — Eight inches deep, eight Inches 

 wide, twelve and three-quarter Inches long, in- 

 side mpasurement. 



Heads — Two heads, five-eighths-inch thick, 

 eight inches wide, eight inches long, sawed lum- 

 ber, dressed on one side. 



Sides — Two sides composed of three veneer 

 slats, not less than three-sixteenths-inch thick, 

 two and one-quarter inches wide, fourteen inches 

 long. Two cleats three-sixteenths-inch thick. 

 two and one-quarter inches wide, eight inches 

 long, secured with staples or nails driven through 

 the cleats and slats, and clinched. 



Top — Composed of two veneer slats not less 

 than three-sixteenths-inch thick, three and three- 

 quarter inches wide, fourteen inches long. Two 



cleats three-sixteentbs-inch thick, two and one- 

 quarter Inches wide, eight inches long, secured 

 with staples or nails driven through the cleats 

 and slats, and clinched. 



Bottom — Not less than three-sizteenths-inch 

 thick, eight inches wide, fourteen inches long, 

 composed of not more than two pieces of veneer 

 closely fitted together. Two cleats three-six- 

 teentbs-inch thick, two and one quarter inches 

 wide, eight inches long, secured with staples or 

 nails driven through the cleats and slats, and 

 clinched. 



Making up — Sides, top and bottom must be 

 nailed with not less than three 4d. nails in each 

 end. Crates must be wired all the way round at 

 each end with wire not smaller than No. 15. 

 or must be strapped with metal strips sixteen 

 inches long, two straps to each end of top and 

 bottom, securing all comers. 



Wood — To be of pine or gum, or wood of equal 

 strength, free from injurious knots or other de- 

 fects, which weaken the strength of the ma- 

 terial. 



Marking — Crates must be legibly marked with 

 two strong card tags — one on each end. E^ch 

 tag must be tacked on with not less than five 

 tacks. Tags must be legibly marked with name 

 of consignee and destination, and shipper and 

 shipping office. 



Exceptions — On account of the fact that cab- 

 bage plants grown in different sections, and 

 those grown in the same sections at different 

 seasons, sometimes vary in size, shippers will 

 be permitted to change the height of heads 

 and centers of the crates to fit the plants, pro- 

 vided material of same strength and thickncHs 

 as provided for in these specifications Is used. 



Crates for 1,000 plants are the same 

 except in dimensions, which are eight 

 inches deep, twelve and three-quarter 

 inches long and sixteen inches wide, in- 

 side measurement. Crates for 2,000 

 plants require a center as well as two 

 heads and in dimensions are eight inches 

 deep, sixteen inches wide and twenty- 

 five and one-eighth inches long, inside 

 measurement. 



Express Company Dissatisfied. 



The express company's representa- 

 tives were not satisfied with the con- 

 rlusions reached. The str.apping, as pro- 

 j)0sed, with wire or metal tape, it is be- 

 lieved will secure the slats to the heads 

 and middle of the crates, but does not 



strengthen the slats themselves. The 

 crates would be wholly acceptable to the 

 express company were the slats of great- 

 er thickness, i. e., %-inch instead of 

 3/16-inch. 



The shippers proposed that, inasmuch 

 as a large supply of crates is in stock, 

 they will strap them as set forth in 

 the specifications and that in consider- 

 ation of the express company's accept- 

 ance of these crates the shippers will 

 hold the express company harmless from 

 all claims at points of origin and desti- 

 nation which result from the use of 

 these crates. 



It was further agreed that the first- 

 class rates are to be charged on all 

 crates containing shipments which do 

 not meet with the specifications above 

 mentioned and that no veneer crates are 

 to be offered or accepted by the express 

 company, of stock now on hand, that are 

 not strapped with wire or metal tape. 



MOTT-LY MUSINQS. 



'•The publicity idea," observed Fred 

 Goldring, of Slingerlands, N. Y., "is, 

 like all big movements, progressing 

 slowly. It is noteworthy, however, that 

 the slogan has penetrated even into the 

 remote villages. It has become inval- 

 uable. ' ' 



• • • • 



Alfred Goldring, of Cobleskill, N. 

 Y., notes increasing business through 

 publicity at the country fairs, one of 

 the avenues little trodden by the florist 

 as a rule, but worthy of notice. 



• • • • 



A. J. Hilton, of Amsterdam, N. Y., 

 when called on, admitted that things 

 could be worse, confounded the strikes 

 and looked forward to a good Thanks- 

 giving business. 



• • • • 



Frank Hotaling, of Amsterdam, N. Y., 

 featured some fine pot chrysanthemums 

 for Thanksgiving. Special week-end 

 sales are found profitable. 



• • • • 



John C. Hatcher, of Amsterdam, N. 

 Y., has a fine display of seasonable 

 stock. The open season is appreciated 

 at Hoffmans, N. Y., the location of the 

 Hatcher greenhouses, which are in 

 charge of the veteran founder. The 

 quality of the stock is kept to the usual 



high standard. 



• • • • 



Joseph Traudt, of Canajoharie, N. Y., 

 wishes to deny the rumor that the Beech- 

 nut Corporation will acquire his snug 

 establishment. While that firm has had 

 an eye on it for 8v>me time, our worthy 

 confrere intends to hand it over to a 

 lusty son, when the time arrives for a 

 transfer. 



* • • • 



Henry Bensel, of Ballston Spa, N. Y., 

 is well pleased with the season 's returns. 

 Summer patronage- has increased and 

 winter business consists largely of ship- 

 ping. 



• • • • 



Henry Schrade, of Saratoga Springs, 

 N. Y., commenting upon the increasing 

 popularity of that watering place, notes 

 a corresponding advance along horticul- 

 tural lines, due largely to keeping in 

 touch with the Chamber of Commerce. 

 With two promising sons taking an ac- 

 tive interest in the business, plans are 



being made for expansion. 



• • • • 



Christian Dehn, of Saratoga Springs, 

 N. Y., hates to retire from a lucrative 

 business. His wife has been for some 

 time unable to give her wonted active 

 assistance. W. M. 



