16 



The Florists^ Review 



June 28, 1917. 



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AN UNUSUAL FUNERAL PIECE. 



Wlien Admiral George Dewey died, 

 Z. I). Blackistoue, Washington, was 

 called uj)oii to make an unusual funeral 

 j»iece. It was an admiral's flag. Ad- 

 miral Dewey was the first and only ad- 

 miral since the days of Farragut and 

 Porter of Civil war fame. When the 

 latter died in 1891, the office was abol- 

 ished, but was revived as a special 

 honor to the hero of Manila bay. Con- 

 sequently, when Mr. Blackistone was 

 asked to jiroduce an admiral's flag, it 

 is unlikely that such another design 

 ever had been made. The flag was of 

 violets and embellished with lilies, wath 

 Mexican ivy for background. The stars 

 will be of particular interest to florists. 

 Tjjey were made of lilies by breaking 

 off the sixth ])etal and filling the center 

 with a large fat carnation, which pro- 

 duced the desired effect. The flag is 

 sliown in the accompanying illustration. 



that class of design, • many customers 

 are sure to ask florists to reproduce the 

 flag or insignia in flowers as a funeral 

 piece. 



Here is a tip. Among the first pages 

 in Webster's dictionary there are repro- 

 duced in colors the flags of the com- 

 manding officers in the army and navy. 

 In the back of the same book are pic- 

 tures of the insignia of the military and 

 naval officers. Witii these pictures be- 

 fore him, the work will be easy for the 

 expert florist. 



WAR-TIME FUNERAL DESIGNS. 



' Since the beginning of the war fu- 

 neral work and the number of flowers 

 sent to hospitals liave increased greatly 

 in Canada. It is probable that the en- 

 try of the United States into the con- 

 flict will have a similar effect here. 

 When that time comes florists will un- 

 doubtedly be called upon to make ap- 

 ])ropriate designs to honor the soldier 

 or sailor who has died in the service. 



The rank of officers in the army and 

 navy is shown by the insignia on their 

 uniforms. Higher officers in both 

 branches of the service have flags of 

 different designs which denote their 

 rank. While tlie trade does not favor 



WAR'S DEMANDS. 



For the duration of the war, accord- 

 ing to public forums, the keynote of 

 American life will be economy. Thrift, 

 saving and the elimination of waste are 

 to be drilled into Mr. and Mrs. Citizen 

 by every means the authorities know 

 how to use. It is to be shouted from 

 ever.\^ housetop that victories are won 

 as much by abolishing waste at home as 

 by abolishing enemy trenches at the 

 front. The most striking phase of the 

 economy movement is the governmental 

 campaign on behalf of conservation of 

 all kinds and 100 per cent utilization. 



Obviously, these conditions create 

 opportunities for advertisers of prod- 

 ucts that have an economy appeal. The 

 significance of the economy crusade is 

 not being overlooked either by manufac- 

 turers or by producers of foodstuffs. 

 Clever advertisers are already featur- 

 ing economy in their ads. We see the 

 statement that ''fewer eggs are re- 

 quired with baking powder." 



The 10-cent loaf of bread is advertised 

 with the argument that a 10-cent loaf 



has only two "heels," while two 5-cent 

 loaves have four. 



It is not the economy drive, however, 

 but the parallel i)ropaganda on behalf 

 of home gardens that has benefited 

 seedsmen. This speeding up of agri- 

 cultural production, which is closely 

 identified with the economy plan, has 

 been turned to good account by deal- 

 ers in seeds, fertilizers and garden tools. 

 The demand for seeds has in many 

 cases been so great that it has been 

 difficult to handle. Mail orders, ac- 

 cording to reports, have been unprec- 

 edented as to volume. Local retail 

 business has been correspondingly 

 heavy, and a burden to those with small 

 salesrooms, the greater activities being 

 crowded into a few weeks, as usual. 



It is interesting to note that one seed 

 concern is striving to cash in on a de- 

 mand which is a by-product of the gar- 

 dening fad. Insects and diseases have 

 always been a part of gardens, and now 

 that vegetable patches are more numer- 

 ous than ever before, more insecticides 

 will be needed. To translate these con- 

 ditions into dollars and cents one seed 

 concern encloses a circular with each 

 ])arcel, bill or letter. Here is a por- 

 tion of the message: 



Kvery true Anicrican linvinjr any nvailable 

 ground is liavinK a vegetable Rarden this year. 



JIany liave never liatl one before and their 

 knowledge is tlierefore limited. We wish to as- 

 sist you as much as imssible and willingly place 

 our knowledge at your disimsal. 



One of the main causes for tlie many discour- 

 agements and failures is due to tlie numberless 

 liests that infest the gardens, and in this case 

 we can say positively an ounce of prevention is 

 worth a pound of cure. 



To assist you in combating thes(> various pests 

 .•lud diseases, destroyers of gardens, we have 

 carefully compiled the following chart for tlie use 

 of the various insecticides. 



Any information we can offer further on the 

 care and culture of your garden will be freel.v 

 given, as we wish to assist as much as possible 

 in waging this great world war. 



Then follows a list of insecticides, 

 with prices and information as to quan- 

 tities to use of each, and when. 



Florists who sell to the public might 

 profit by the hint. 



FORMULA FOR SOIL PESTS. 



What should be done to kill ])ests 

 that destroy the roots of asters and 

 other outdoor plants? 



W. H. D.— Wis. 



To kill grubs or larva? that eat roots, 

 you should bore holes in the soil twelve 

 to fifteen inches apart each way and 

 four to five inches deep. Pour a scant 

 teasjioonful of carbon bisulphide in each 

 hole and immediately cover it. The re- 

 sultant gas will suffocate the soil pests. 

 For root aphis on asters and other 

 ])lants a coal oil emulsion, one part of 

 coal oil to thirty parts of water, can 

 be used, pouring a pint of the mixture 

 about the stem of each plant. This 

 method will not kill the aphides, but 

 will drive them away. Neither the car- 

 bon bisulphide nor coal oil emulsion will 

 liarm the plants. Some growers have 

 found tobacco water useful in fighting 

 the root aphis. C. W. 



BRIEF REPLIES. 



An Admiral's Flag for Dewey Funeral by Z. D. BIackistone> Washington, D. C. 



E. D. B., Tex. — Send a sample. 



G. W. C, N. Y.— See article in The 

 Review of May 10. 



T. R., Kan. — Address any of the flo- 

 rists' supply houses advertising in The 

 Review. 



La Veta, Colo. — Le Roy P. Springer 

 says he is going to try his luck again as 

 n florist here. 



