38 



The Florists' Review 



August 15, 1912. 



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FLORIST 



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GALVESTON GATES. 



The gates ajar shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration was made by Mrs. 

 N. Updike, of the Galveston Floral Co., 

 Galveston, Tex. The flowers used were 

 White Killarney roses and lavender 

 sweet peas. The green was adiantum, 

 with galax and some cut fronds of Bos- 

 ton fern in the base. 



BASKETS FOR FUNERALS. 



Are They a Good Innovation? 



The Eeview of August 1 contained, 

 in its Eetail Department, a picture of 

 a basket of American Beauties that 

 had been arranged by a designer in 

 Springfield, Mo., for use at a funeral. 

 Accompanying the picture was a short 

 article which drew attention to the fact 

 that the employment of the basket for 

 such a purpose was a comparatively 

 new idea and therefore had at least 

 the one merit of originality. It was 

 stated that the basket illustrated had 

 proved to be especially pleasing be- 

 cause it was different from all the 

 other offerings at the funeral. In this 

 case, though the basket of flowers is 

 generally associated with more happy 

 circumstances, it did not seem to con- 

 vey any incongruous suggestions to the 

 minds of those present. The article 

 concluded by inviting communications 

 from any readers who might feel dis- 

 posed to express their opinions on the 

 subject. The following are some of the 

 responses to the invitation: 



From E. L. Newton, Baltimore. 



In your issue of August 1 I noticed 

 that you had an illustration of a basket 

 of roses for funeral use, and expressed 

 a desire to hear from retail florists re- 

 garding their views as to the use of 

 baskets for this purpose. I put up a 

 basket, similar to the one pictured, for 

 a funeral last spring. It was covered 

 with Asparagus plumosus and smilax 

 and filled with Radiance roses. The 

 tall handle of the basket was twined 

 with smilax and at one side was fast- 

 ened a long-stemmed rose, with a large 

 bow of ribbon to match the flower. It 

 was much admired and has been kept 

 on the grave all summer and kept filled 

 with plants and cut flowers. 



From E. H. Harvey, Kansas City. 



In reply to your inquiry as to 

 whether baskets should be used as 

 funeral offerings, I, for one, say no, 

 for their use in that way would mean 

 the elimination of their use as center- 

 pieces for table decorations, as well 

 as their presentation to debutantes 

 and their use for buffets, for home 

 decorations at receptions, for churches, 

 graduations, etc. 



I know of no reason for advocating 

 the use of this floral piece as a funeral 

 offering. Yet some will say, "If a 

 customer wants it and will pay the 



price, what is the difference?" The 

 difference is this: If it is to fulfill its 

 natural purpose or mission, that of con- 

 gratulation or well-wishing, it should 

 be confined to such use. It is the duty 

 of the designer or salesperson to in- 

 form the purchaser with reference to 

 this fact. It is safe to say that ninety- 

 nine per cent will yield to the argu- 

 ment, if such it can be called. If, 

 however, any of them insist upon the 

 purchasing of this piece and will pay 

 its value, give it to them, but first im- 

 press upon their minds the fact that it 

 is inappropriate as a funeral offering. 



Without doubt, the basket can be, 

 and often is, the most beautiful prod- 

 uct of the florists' art. To both master 

 artist and novice it offers the greatest 

 opportunity for originality, as well as 

 a chance for variation. No design or 

 set piece can be made to give more 

 graceful and realistic effects than the 

 basket may produce. But there are 

 numerous floral tributes, other than the 

 basket, that carry a more specific mes- 



sage of love and sympathy. For in- 

 stance, there are the cross, wreath, 

 pillow, anchor, triangle, broken circle 

 or column, lyre, harp, etc. Pause for a 

 moment and think of the numerous and 

 beautiful fraternal emblems that carry 

 a paramount expression. These, if 

 studied with regard to their meaning, 

 will assist in the execution of some 

 idea which may or may not be original, 

 but which will express the idea in- 

 tended. 



My opinion may be summed up em- 

 phatically in the few words: Do not 

 use the basket as a funeral design or 

 offering. 



From H. L. Bennett, Sewickley. 



In regard to the use of baskets for 

 funerals, I think the idea is a good 

 one, as the spray and design have been 

 in use so long that people will like 

 something different. 



From Meredith Flower & Vegetable Co. 



We are pleased to note the advent of 

 the flower basket for funeral purposes, 

 as it gives a greater range for display 

 than any other design we know of. We 

 have introduced the basket and find 

 that it has given more satisfaction than 

 we anticipated. It gives an opportu- 

 nity for arrangement that does not 

 appear in other designs. 



Another advent in our design room is 

 the floor mat, which is made from com- 

 mon grass, found in every greenhouse. 

 We use a piece of burlap, to which we 

 sew common grasses thickly, with here 



Gates Ajar Made by the Galveston Floral Q>. 



