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608 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



Auausx 10, 1905. 



of infinitely better quality than ever be- 

 fore. There is no fear of plants tak- 

 ing the place of cut flowers, for while 

 the demand has increased enormously of 

 late years for plants, the demand for cut 

 flowers has increased accordingly. There 

 is probably more money in growing cut 

 flowers than in growing plants, but the 

 florist doing a retail business will cer- 

 tainly como out on top by growing ji 

 stock of good plants in variety. 



The bedding plant trade this year ex- 

 ceeded all expectations. A larger quan- 

 tity than ever was grown, but all were 

 sold out before the demand was ex- 

 hausted. It is in this particular class 

 of trade that ^ve feel the necessity of uni- 

 form prices. This subject is a rather 

 difficult one to handle, but after we 

 have heard Mr. McKenna 's paper we will 

 probably find a solution of this much dis- 

 cussed subject. 



The demand for shrubs and herba- 

 ceous plants is increasing rapidly. Many 

 new residences are being built in the 

 suburbs of our cities and the growing 

 demand is for some plant that will not 

 need renewing every year. I would ad- 

 vise all florists with land at their dis- 

 posal to lay in a stock of these useful 

 plants and to be prepared to meet the 

 demand. 



A Demise. 



I am sorry to have to announce the de- 

 mise of our trade paper. A Canadian 

 paper is admitted by all to be a neces- 

 sity. The Canadian Florist, while in cir- 

 culation, was soundly abused, perhaps 

 deservedly so, but when it disappeared 

 it was sadly missed. I do not think a 

 trade paper would for a few years pay 



nients. There are wholesale houses all 

 over our Dominion which can supply the 

 Canadian trade with all the staple ar- 

 ticles required, but who, unfortunately, 

 have not the means of letting their 

 brother florists know what they have to 

 dispose of. Again a florist wants to 

 buy a certain class of plants, but he has 

 no means of finding out where he can 

 procure them in Canada; consequently, 

 he looks up his trade papers, which hap- 

 pen to be American; sends good money 

 out of the country, pays the duty and is 

 thankful for whatever he can get. Now, 

 gentlemen, reciprocity is a word which 

 is unknown to our neighbors to the south 

 of us and the sooner we recognize the 

 fact that Canada is for Canadians the 

 sooner will our trade, our paper and our 

 organization be successful. 



The Tariff, 



A resolution was passed at our last 

 convention with reference to the question 

 of duty on plants. Your committee did 

 all in their power to carry out the 

 wishes of the association. Our minister 

 promised to get the matter put through 

 the house immediately and several local 

 members promised their hearty support, 

 but, unfortunately, the last elections 

 were too close and the next general elec- 

 tions too far away for us to get any- 

 thing but promises. Anyhow the reso- 

 lution created a good discussion in our 

 trade paper and brought out a diversity 

 of opinion among the members of the 

 craft. 



You are all aware that a tariff com- 

 mission has been appointed to go the 

 round of the cities this fall to discuss 

 this subject with all branches of trade. 



Floral Ship Made by M. A. Bowe, New York. 



its expenses, and like any other young 

 business, it could hardly be expected to 

 do so, but in a few years ' time I feel cer- 

 tain a Canadian paper would be a paying 

 concern. We have plenty of able writers 

 and all we require is an editor who can 

 command the respect and confidence of 

 the trade in general. We have been 

 very unfortunate in the selection of our 

 editors in the past and I would advise 

 discretion before this matter is officially 

 disposed of. The reading matter in such 

 a paper is certainly its chief attractibn 

 but the benefits to be , derived by the 

 Canadian florist is from the advertise- 



Xow I would respectfully suggest that 

 the members of this society drop their 

 party politics for the time being and 

 discuss the tariff question from a busi- 

 ness standpoint. It is entirely necessary 

 that there be a uniformity of opinion be- 

 fore we can impress upon the commis- 

 sion the desirability of arrangement of 

 duties on plants. 



Labor Question. 



While the labor question has been very 

 unsettled in nearly all branches of trade, 

 I am glad to say the relation between 

 employer and employe in our profes- 



sion has remained satisfactory. True, 

 there ia a scarcity of intelligent native 

 help and we have to depend almost en- 

 tirely on immigrants for our greenhouse 

 help, but as our basiness increases and 

 the possibilities of advancement are bet- 

 ter known this matter will right itself. 



The Trade Exhibits. 



The trade exhibits in connection with 

 our annual conventions are, I am glad 

 to say, growing rapidly in extent and im- 

 portance. The members of the associa- 

 tion are shown the quaL'ty of the stock 

 grown right in our own country. The 

 exhibitors may be disappointed at not 

 receiving a lot of orders immediately, 

 but the exhibits will be impressed upon 

 the minds of the delegates and when 

 they require a certain stock they know 

 just where to obtain it without going out 

 of the country. Certificates and diplomas 

 are in the hands of the association, and 

 I hope the judges will award them gen- 

 erously but with discretion. This will 

 also enhance the value of the trade ex- 

 hibit. 



I would again call your attention to 

 the fact that a printed copy of the com- 

 plete doings of the Canadian Horticul- 

 tural Association convention, as well as 

 awards of the various committees, would 

 be a boon to all the members, not only 

 as a reference, but if nicely printed 

 would be worth preserving as a memento 

 and record of past conventions. 



Future of the Society. 



A place of meeting for our convention 

 next year should be seriously considered 

 before a choice is made. We have vis- 

 ited all the large cities and the prevail- 

 ing idea is to meet in one of the smaller 

 towns. The argument is that it will 

 stimulate horticulture in these towns. 

 But will it be in the best interests of the 

 society? Will the members attend the 

 convention in a small town as well as 

 they would in a city where there arc 

 other attractions, apart from the ses- 

 sions? The prosperity of the association 

 depends entirely upon its membership. 

 The association is in a flourishing con- 

 dition, thanks to the hard work of offi- 

 cers and members for the past seven 

 years, but there is still a lot of mis- 

 sionary work needed. I Avould certainly 

 like to see more activity among our 

 members. A little effort by each would 

 materially increase our membership. 

 There is no reason why we should not 

 double our membership next year. When 

 we consider that there are fully 600 

 engaged in our business, it is strange 

 that so few take advantage of the bene- 

 fits to be derived from a national society. 

 No member should rest until every mem- 

 ber of the craft is enrolled upon our 

 books and every florist throughout the 

 country should be made to see the bene- 

 fits arising from being a member of this 

 organization and attending the conven- 

 tions. 



The thanks of the association are due 

 the members of the executive commit- 

 tee, who have spent time and monev 

 attending the committee meetings and 

 looking after the interests of the 

 society since the last eonveutioii 

 They have been greatly handicapped 

 lately by having no trade paper 

 in which to discuss matters pertaining 

 to the association. This has necessitated 

 a large amount of correspondence, but 

 this work has been done by them with 

 a will, showing that they have the cause 

 at heart. The result of their work and 



