18 



The Rorists^ Review 



January 6, 1921 



prices for the crops being accompanied 

 or quickly to be followed by adequate 

 instead of insufficient farm labor and by 

 lower prices for farmers' materials. 



"4. The new and more hopeful out- 

 look of the railways, not yet even ap- 

 proximately tested as to the profit- 

 earning power of the new rates under 

 the government's altered railway pol- 

 icy; while in the export trade, the teach- 

 ing of our yrhole economic history is 

 that a fall in prices, however sudden, 

 invariably places American foreign 

 trade on a sounder and surer basis. 



"5. The fact that reduction in the 

 proceeds of income and profit taxes will 

 force the hand of Congress to reform the 

 whole unfair and precarious present sys- 

 tem of taxation." 



The presentation of the general condi- 

 tions so far given indicates that there 

 will be throughout the country in 1921 

 good business and plenty of it. Its 

 aspect for the florist is most favorable. 

 Christmas business showed clearly that 

 the buyers ' strike did not extend to this 

 trade. Those who had been pessimistic 

 in their predictions as to the sale of 

 flowers, basing their utterances on con- 

 ditions in other lines of business, re- 

 ceived a startling surprise, while those 

 who were more optimistic admitted that 

 their hopes had been surpassed. The 

 encouragement given to the trade in 

 this way was quite warm. 



Better for Florists. 



In the outlook for the coming year 

 other factors are favorable for florists. 

 The problem of help, so serious a handi- 

 cap the last two years, is already easier. 

 Unskilled labor is much less in cost 

 than it was and there is plenty of it. 

 Skilled workers are returning from the 

 industries which lured them away with 

 more lucrative opportunities in the war 

 period. Lessened demand for almost all 

 classes of labor is rendering workers 

 more content, and, in comparison, the 

 opportunities in the florists' field now 

 shine more brightly. 



The curtailed demand for the mate- 

 rials of greenhouse construction will en- 

 able the growers to resume progress in 

 adding to their glass area. The build- 

 ing of late years has not, speaking in 

 country-wide terms, more than replaced 

 the old houses torn down or closed when 

 the owners or lessees found that other 

 forms of work paid better for less effort 

 and responsibility. There is now a 

 growing demand for flowers, which 

 seems likely to exceed our ability to 

 meet it without more glass. In 1921 

 cost of construction will be lessened; 

 indeed, it is already reduced, so that 

 growers who postponed additions until 

 they might make them with a smaller 

 capital investment now may place 

 their orders. 



More Flowers Needed. 



Naturally the cost of greenhouse 

 operation will be less than in 1920. 

 Some items, such as coal, labor and 

 some kinds of lumber, are down already. 

 Others will come down later. The 

 lessened cost of operation is important, 

 because if flowers can be sold for less, 

 the purchasing public is thereby^ en- 

 larged, something always to be desired. 



For florists there is still a further 

 favorable influence at work for 1921, 

 the restoration to the list of purchasers 

 of those persons whose income failed 

 to increase in proportion to the cost of 

 living and who now therefore are find- 

 ing their purchasing power enlarged by 



the decreasing living costs. In the lists 

 of some retailers these persons were 

 formerly an important number. The 

 resumption of their former flower buy- 

 ing will far more than offset the loss 

 occasioned by the cessation of purchases 

 by spendthrift wage-earners of other 

 days. This increase in demand will 

 make all the more imperative the neces- 

 sity for increased glass area and a larger 

 production of flowers. 



The General Opinion. 



That the favorable outlook is gener- 

 ally observed may be noted from last 

 week's reports of the leading commer- 

 cial agencies. Bradstreet's stated: 

 "While the small improvement report- 

 able this week is more a matter of tone 

 and feeling than of actually expanded 

 business, it is nevertheless true that a 

 more cheerful air prevails in many lines. 

 Chiefly instrumental in bringing this 

 about probably are the evidences of 

 greater stability in the markets for se- 

 curities and grain, but there are accom- 

 panying reports of a stiffening of tone 

 in a few of the large lines, such as raw 

 silk, wool, hides and leather, which were 



The Editor 1« pleaaed when 

 a Reader presents his Ideas 

 on any subject treated in 



As experience is the l>est 

 teacher* so do we learn 

 fastest by an exchange of 

 experiences. Many valuable 

 points are brought out by 

 discussion. 



Good penmanship, spelling and 

 Brammar, though desirable, are not 

 necessary. Write as you would talk 

 when doing your best. 



WE SHALL BE GLAD 

 TO HEAR FROM YOU 



leaders in the slump of last spring and 

 which now display a little more anima- 

 tion. 



"This feeling seems to find expres- 

 sion in the idea that immediate marked 

 improvement is not to be looked for, 

 and that in some lines, notably iron and 

 steel, price stabilization must go still 

 further, but, on the other hand, leaders 

 in several lines say that absolute bottom 

 has been reached and that the ascent 

 will shortly begin." 



According to Dun's "Review," "the 

 year-end halting in business is more 

 marked than usual, but indications of 

 improved sentiment multiply. Some im- 

 portant basic lines have gained a little 

 in activity, and the reappearance of a 

 broader demand after a prolonged 

 period of waiting has given rise to more 

 confident hopes. Among the encourag- 

 ing features at the turn of the year are 

 the preparations now under way for an 

 early renewal of operations at certain 

 manufacturing establishments. 



"The whole structure of commerce is 

 undergoing a transformation that was 

 inevitable, but many of the annual re- 

 views of business stress the fact that 

 the readjustment of the past year, far- 

 reaching as it has been, has caused less 



serious disturbance than was feared in 

 many quarters. After a transition such 

 as was witnessed during 1920, fewer 

 weak spots now appear, and the future 

 outlook, if uncertain, is more favorably 

 regarded. ' ' 



Push and Prosper. 

 From these various causes it is easy 

 to see that the year on whose threshold 

 we stand offers an exceedingly bright 

 prospect. Its opening may be cold, in 

 business as in weather, but January is 

 never a record month for florists, so 

 that they suffer less than many other 

 businesses. But the later months, sOon 

 to be at hand, when industries are alive 

 and all trade flourishing, will assuredly 

 bring a good season to us. It will not 

 be had without effort, however. Work 

 will be necessary, as well as a cool head, 

 a cheerful spirit and a strong grip each 

 on his own business. So long as effort 

 is rewarded, no one need complain. 

 When there is business to be had if one 

 will go after it, there is no reason for 

 pessimism. No one will expect easy 

 business always, and no one would wish 

 it. For florists who will avail them- 

 selves of the opportunities to get busi- 

 ness and who will make the needed ef- 

 fort, 1921 will be a year of good busi- 

 ness and ample prosperity. 



AMERICAN CABNATION SOCIETY. 



Convention Committees. 



In a New Year's day announcement, 

 Vice-president David G. Grillbortzer, of 

 the American Carnation Society, made 

 public the names of the committee mem- 

 bers who will serve in connection with 

 the annual convention to be held at 

 Washington, D. C, January 26 and 27. 



Mr. Grillbortzer has completed ar- 

 rangements with the manager of the 

 New Willard hotel for the use of the 

 ballroom on the tenth floor for the busi- 

 ness meetings of the convention. All 

 other details will be arranged by the 

 committees, the personnel of which is as 

 follows : 



Executive commlttee^David G. Grillbortzer, 

 cliairman; Adolph B. Gude, vice-chairman; Otto 

 Bauer, treasurer; Adolph Gude, Sr., William F. 

 Oude. George W. Hegs, J. Harper Hetherington, 

 R. Uoyd Jenkins, Fred H. Kramer, Clarence L. 

 Llnz, Albert C. Schnell, George C. Shaffer, Harry 

 B. Lewla, 



Entertainment — Adolph E. Gude, chairman; 

 George W. Hess, George C. Shaffer. Edward 8. 

 Schmid. 



Greeters— William F. Gude, chairman; J. Dan 

 Blackistone, Z. D, Blacklstone, Theodore Died- 

 rlch, Stanley Holland, Louis E. Hoover, W. W. 

 KImmel, Elmer C. Mayberry, Fred H. Kramer, 

 0. A. C.'Oehmler, Harry Payne. 



Oovemment CoSperatlon — George W. Hess, Wil- 

 liam H. Ernest, Edward S. Schmid, Messrs. 

 Byrnes and Honlock. 



Publicity— J. Harper Hetherington, chairman; 

 Clarence L. Llnz, George C. Shaffer, 6. Milton 

 Thomas, George White. 



Exhibition— Harry B. Lewis, chairmaa; Otto 

 Bauer, Albert C. Schnell. 



Boosters— R. Lloyd Jenkins, chairman; Louis 

 Bowdler, George C. Dalgleish, M. J. McCabe, 

 Edward Niedomanski, John Sharper, West Bros.. 

 Henry Witt. 



OUR SLOGAN AT CHRISTMAS. 



The verses below were sent to Hay- 

 good Paterson, of the Eosemont Gar- 

 dens, by George A. Beauchamp, grand 

 recorder of the Grand Commandery of 

 Knights Templar of Alabama, being 

 composed by himself: 



"Say It with Flowers," the slogan rung 



In florists' windows gay; 

 And friends with flowers gladden friends, 



To cheer them on their way. 



So Christmas thoughts for absent friends 



In this glad world of ours 

 Are beat expressed, when Christmas comes. 



If all are said with flowers. 



These verses show the impression that 

 our slogan has made. w. B. P 



