28 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



December 16, 1909. 



constructed, I do not want to condemn 

 this method entirely. H. S. 



SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS, 



THE CHRISTMAS TABLES. 



The Christmas table decorations will 

 call for the use of red and green in the 

 shacjes of the poinsettia and holly. 



The accompanying illustration is re- 

 produced from a photograph showing a 

 Christmas decoration by the Bell Floral 

 Co., Franklin, Pa. This was in the din- 

 ing-room of the Venango Club at Oil 

 City and was all in poinsettias and 

 Christmas bells. The large dome light 

 over the table was transformed into a 

 large bell, using red beech sprays, small 

 Christmas bells and poinsettias. In the 

 center of the table there lay a large ball 

 of boxwood and red immortelles, with 

 wide holly-red ribbon radiating from it, 

 each ribbon having a large double bow at 

 the edge of the table. Midway between 

 the center and each end of the oval table 

 there was a basket of poinsettias. The 

 green used was smilax. 



Such -a decoration as this is susceptible 

 to modification to fit almost any condi- 

 tion and it affords a striking and pleas- 

 ing variation from the classes of mate- 

 rial used in this work at other seasons. 



VAPOR ON SHOW WINDOWS. 



In our flower store we use a gas stove 

 for heating in the rear. How can we 

 prevent the window from getting covered 

 with moisture, without heating the front 

 of the store? Is there something with 

 which we coula rub or wash the window, 

 in order to prevent this? G. M. N. & S. 



The steaming of the windows in any 

 store is due to the watery vapors in the 

 atmosphere becoming condensed. This 

 condensation is brought about by the 

 vapors coming in contact with the window 

 gla^s, which is colder than the interior 

 of the room. In a flower store the air 

 is unusually damp; therefore we all ex- 

 perience much trouble with frost on our 

 windows, especially during the coldest 

 days, just when a pretty window, with 

 its flowers and plants, would appeal 

 strongly to the passer-by. Layer after 

 layer of this moisture freezes on the 

 window, and it is soon coated with ice, 

 especially at the bottom, the moisture 

 running down the glass. 



A little heat in the front of the store 

 would do no good. You would have to 

 get the air quite warm before the frost 

 on the glass would thav/. 



One way of preventing the steaming 

 is by causing a passage of air on the 

 inside of the window, close to the glass. 

 This may be accomplished with small 

 ventilators at the top of the window or 

 just below the glass, in the frame, if 

 there is one. 



A solution of two-thirds alcohol and 

 one-third glycerine, applied lightly to the 

 glass with a sponge or cloth, will prevent 

 the freezing of the moisture, but I have 

 found this a nuisance also, as the window 

 is not clear when coated in this manner. 



After much experience, I have found 

 the best remedy to be cold water applied 

 freely to the glass. Take a small water- 



ing can or a sprayer and flow some cold 

 water down the inside of the window. 

 Doing this once or twice a day, usually 

 toward evening, will be sufficient. If 

 your window is so constructed that water 

 cannot be applied freely, then I would 

 suggest that you wipe off the steam with 

 a sponge or cloth saturated with cold 

 water. 



It has been suggested that the only 

 sure remedy for the trouble we expe- 

 rience in winter with frost on the glass, 

 is to have the window constructed the 

 same as a florist 's refrigerator door ; 

 that is, two lights of glass with an air 

 space between. This I hardly think 

 practical with a large window. In the 

 first place, the space between must be per- 

 fectly air-tight, and even then, in time, 

 the glass inside will get dirty and will 

 have to be cleaned. Still, never having 

 had any experience with a window so 



A Letter From President Valentine. 



As the year is fast drawing to a close, 

 I hope you will not feel it an infliction 

 if I address a few words to you before 

 stepping down and out. 



The most noteworthy work aceom 

 plished by our society during the year 

 was the securing of a revision of the 

 tariff in relation to bulbs. The duty 

 is now based upon the number and not 

 the value of the bulbs. This is simple, 

 tends to the importation of a better av- 

 erage grade and does away with the ac- 

 cusations of sharp practices by remov- 

 ing the inducement and the opportunity. 

 Under the old arrangement the honest 

 importer was handicapped, but now be 

 starts from the scratch. 



This alone is much, but it is significant 

 of more. It means that this society 

 has been able to secure attention in the 

 halls of Congress and, still more, to have 

 it apparent that the weight of its influ- 

 ence is cast on the side of honest and 

 upright methods. 



Now that the society has accomplished 

 so much in this direction, let us make it 

 a continuing habit to do things that need 

 doing. 



Cyclamen in a White China Pot. 



