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July 31, 1913. 



The Hbfists* Review 



tl 



might mention that of 500 plants of 

 one variety bought from the States this 

 season, only a dozen were saved. Con- 

 sequently these trade arrangements 

 must be a big saving to the trade col- 

 lectively, and other specialists in hor- 

 ticulture would do well to give the mat- 

 ter consideration. 



"Mr. Totty's specialties are chrysan- 

 themums, roses and carnations. The 

 chief part of the chrysanthemum busi- 

 ness is explained above, but I must 

 mention that he distributed Eose 

 Sunburst, in conjunction with E. G. 

 Hill, for Pernet-Ducher. This was a 

 fine business for those concerned, and 

 Mr. Pernet-Ducher was no doubt 

 pleased with the results that Mr. Hill 

 was able to report. Also, we bought 

 quite an insignificant number of Eose 

 Lady Hillingdon when in the novelty 

 stage for Mr. Totty, and two years 

 since we bought in the variety, Mrs. 

 Geo. Shawyer. Mr. Totty worked these 

 hard and practically had the monopoly 

 of both varieties in the States, and 

 could have handed the distributor here 

 a good round sum had he been working 

 with an agreement on the W. P. T. 

 lines. His thirst for novelties can not 

 be satisfied, but they must be tip-top 

 things, or he can not do much with 

 them. To prove this, Mr. Totty grew 

 our new chrysanthemum. Queen Mary, 

 in large quantities last season. The 

 records of this variety are still in the 

 memory of all in Britain, but the thing 

 was a failure in the States, so Mr. 

 Totty offered stock to anybody on his 

 side that cared to try so famous a 

 variety, but few indeed took the trou- 

 ble to write for it. It seems remarkable 

 that the variety every enthusiast here 

 was talking about should be worthless 

 there, yet it is satisfying to know that 

 he prevented our sending out an un- 

 suitable variety which would disappoint 

 our customers. 



"In all departments of the horticul- 

 tural trade there is a necessity to pur- 

 chase new things from other climes. 

 When these novelties are once on the 

 market in the country of origin, they 

 are promptly purchased by the up-to- 

 date man here, but it is a speculation. 

 They are worked up to the hitch, and if 

 good placed on the market here twelve 

 months or so later, usually at a reduced 

 price. This method doesn't bring any 

 one trader in a lot of money, and but 

 little advertisement or credit. It 

 means he has to be quick in flowering 

 the plant, and spend much money to let 

 people know he has the new thing, or 

 the failures will be added to. In men- 

 tioning these facts, I am not including 

 carnations or roses only by any means; 

 almost every branch of the trade is 

 concerned. Climatic conditions on 

 plants are so varied that it would be 

 of great benefit personally and to the 

 trade generally if these working ar- 

 rangements of testing out new plants 

 were carried out by specialists in de- 

 partments other than my own, and it 

 would create more trade and be an in- 

 ternational benefit to horticulture. 



"Not long ago Mr. Totty began 

 growing chrysanthemums in a small 

 way, and had quite a small establish- 

 ment. Shortly after the Twombly 

 place was offered him, which was mere- 

 ly across a paddock from his houses. 

 This estate was a model building built 

 by a private gentleman, who thought 

 it father too large for him to keep up. 

 The packing sheds are built in the 

 shape of a right angle, which is really 



"WHO'S WHO-AND WHY" 



O. W. McKELLAB. 



WITH rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she makes music wherever 

 she goes. ' ' That 's the way the old nursery jingle had it, and it 's almost 

 the same with Charlie McKellar — the only difference is that with a smile on his face 

 and a pleasant word on his lips he makes friends wherever he goes. "Mack" once 

 was known as one of "those Chicago Indians," but in later years he has become 

 one of the most quiet and conservative of business men, without losing in the least 

 the quality of making a life's friend of everyone he meets, even in the most casual 

 way. Hardly ever does a florist visit Chicago without calling on McKellar, just to 

 pass a cheery time-of-day. 



a covered avenue about twenty feet 

 wide. The houses are entered from this 

 avenue, which is 200 feet each way, 

 and which is used as packing and pot- 

 ting sheds, offices, flower stores, box 

 rooms, etc. A double sliding door is 

 at each end and a two-horse van can 

 go the whole way through to pick up 

 or deliver goods. The gentleman who 

 built the plant used to drive a four-in- 

 hand through, and from that view the 

 plants and flowers in the shed and 

 houses. In the angle are the boilers 

 and the steam pipes go along the roof 

 and floor of the sheds, so that every 

 part can be reached in the winter with- 

 out putting any pipes outdoors. 



"Mr. Totty has a very extensive re- 

 tail trade besides a large wholesale 

 business. Chrysanthemums, carnations 

 and roses are perhaps the chief items, 

 but anything that will sell is not ob- 

 jected to. Since taking over the Twom- 

 bly houses, the business has increased 

 to such an extent that he has taken 

 over still more houses, also adjoining. 



Three of our lads were there working 

 among the chrysanthemums, and while 

 I was pleased to learn they were get- 

 ting on so well, I was a bit grieved to 

 be told they didn't want to come home 

 again, except for a holiday and to see 

 the old people. They appreciate the 

 almighty dollar better than the English 

 shilling, and they didn't mind telling, 

 me they possessed more of the former 

 now than they did of the latter while 

 at home. It seems to be a great loss to 

 the old country that these young men 

 should leave it, but to anybody that 

 will work, whether they make headway 

 here or not, there are plenty of chances 

 in the States or in Canada. Money can 

 be made and saved much quicker there, 

 but for one that is comfortably sit- 

 uated here, it may be pleasing to know 

 that I saw no place to surpass home." 



Petoskey, Micli. — Frank Winans is 

 the successor to W. H. Moses as pro- 

 prietor of the West Side Greenhouse. 



