May 14, 1908. 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



A LARGE DESIGN. 



The wreath shown here was made by 

 the Livingston Seed Co., Columbus, O., 

 for the funeral of John Joyce, presi- 

 <lent of the Green-Joyce Co., sent by 

 the employees of that firm. 



The size of the wreath was six feet, 

 and it contained 400 white roses, 300 

 lily of the valley, 200 American Beau- 

 ties and 1,000 double violets, with Whit- 

 mani fern fronds and maidenhair around 

 the edge, with a large cluster of sago 

 palm leaves. 



The design was made by Mr. Gibson, 

 of the Livingston Seed Co., and was 

 one of the most artistic large designs 

 ever made in Columbus. The photograph 

 did not do the design justice, owing 

 to the dark weather. The selling price of 

 the design was $200. 



FUNERAL WORK. 



Notes on Set Pieces* 



So much has been written about sprays, 

 wreaths,' casket covers, etc., that it seems 

 to me some of the old standbys have 

 been entirely forgotten. 



There are times, of course, or rather 

 seasons of the year, when the less call 

 we have for set pieces, as the harp, 

 anchor, lyre, etc., are commonly called, 

 the better we like it, but these are of 

 short duration. Usually there is a lot 

 of stock that can be worked up nicely 

 into such designs, with a good profit for 

 the florist and value received for the 

 purchaser. For instance, during the 

 aster season, chrysanthemum season and 

 at times when light-colored carnations 

 are a glut on the market. When carna- 

 tions are plentiful you can often buy 

 enough for $1 to furnish the setting or 

 background for a design that sells for $5. 



Florists differ as to the prices on set 

 pieces. Of course there are times when 

 a design can be made up cheaper than 

 at another time. But this would only 

 make a difference of from two to four 

 inches on the frame. Why is it, then, 

 that some florists will make up a 20-inch 

 to 22-inch pillow for $5 when one of 

 that size, well made of all flowers, 

 should bring $8 to $10? There are sev- 

 eral ways of accounting for this, but as 

 long as there are florists there will be 

 difference in the prices charged, so we 

 will drop this part of this subject. 



What to Suggest. 



As stated in a previous article, it is 

 not good policy to talk too much when 

 a customer is making inquiries concern- 

 ing funeral work; still you will probably 

 be called upon to make some suggestions. 

 Let your prospective customer give you 

 some idea of what is wanted and then, 

 if necessary, offer some suggestions. 



If, for instance, your customer wants 

 a broken wheel for the funeral of a 

 voung man who has been living by him- 

 self and whose death in no way broke up 



a family or made a break in any club or 

 social circle, tell him, in a friendly way, 

 that some other design would be more 

 appropriate, but if he seems intent on 

 having the wheel, give him the wheel 

 by all means. 



We will suppose, though, that a cus- 

 tomer wants a large design and wants 

 purple and white flowers to predominate 

 in its make-up. You are short on pur- 

 ple stock and have a nice stock of pink 

 roses ready to use. Here is where tact 

 plays an important part. After Mr. 

 Customer has told you his idea, do not 



the trimming you must use good stock. 

 If the design is a low-priced affair, give 

 $2 or $3 worth of good, fresh flowers, 

 as the case may be. 



Individuality of Designs. 



Some florists make all designs in just 

 the same way, the only difference being 

 in the shape, and the wireman supplies 

 this. My experience has taught me that 

 almost every design we are called upon 

 to make has some individuality which the 

 designer must carry out; some little 

 touch not associated with any other de- 

 sign. 



Of course the general work, or body 

 of the work, is the same on all designs. 

 In a recent article I went into details 

 as to putting the foil, moss, etc., on a 

 frame, so we will not repeat this. 



One of the most important things to 

 remember in making a design is to al- 

 ways make the outline first, thereby as- 

 suring good shape. When it is possible 

 to do so it is always a good plan to use 

 some small flower as an edging. 



Beginning with the anchor, we will 



A Monster Standing Wreath. 



run down purple and white, but in a 

 nice way try to sell him white and pink. 



Use Fresh Flowers. 



By all means use fresh flowers in all 

 your work. This does not necessarily 

 imply flowers that are only one day old, 

 but means such flowers as you know are 

 fresh. One or two old, faded flowers in 

 a design will spoil the appearance of the 

 whole. Of course for the flowers that 

 go to form the background of the piece 

 you need not be so particular, but in 



just run through a part of the whole 

 list of designs and see how we can bring 

 out some of the special features. 



Anchor. 



Some designs have more special fea- 

 tures to look to than others. In making 

 up an anchor, see to it that the crossbar 

 tapers a little at the end. On a large 

 anchor the prongs can be given a good 

 shape with a little care. By placing a 

 flower of a different color than the rest 

 of the design in the center of the top 



