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JEMBER 16, 1900. 



Th^ We^y Florists' Review. 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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LUNCHEON TABLES. 



When the hostess puts no cloth on the 

 luncheon table she both simplifies and 

 complicates the work of the florist — for 

 no matter how informal the affair may 

 be, it calls for flowers in these modern 

 times, when the luxuries of yesterday are 

 the necessities of today. 



A round table being spread with 

 doilies, what can the florist do? He 

 can set something on the center of the 

 table and put baskets or vases of flow- 

 ers around it at a little distance; not 

 much more. He cannot put flowers di- 

 rectly on a bare board, nor can he use 

 anything that will increase the height of 

 his decorations, and he must keep the 

 outer circle of his flowers lower even than 

 the low central bowl, or he will destroy 

 the symmetry and effect of his work. 

 Under such circumstances, and all retail- 

 ers who have a first-class trade have met 

 with them many times this summer, the 

 choice is simply one of receptacles and 

 of flowers — there is hardly room for 

 choice of styles of decoration without 

 danger of passing the bounds of the con- 

 servatism that is rigidly required of all 

 who cater to those who have had money 

 long enough to have become accustomed 

 to it. The bizz^re in floral effects may 

 meet with the approval of Mrs. Newrich 

 and her friends, but Mrs. Usedtoit wants 

 nothing on the topsy-turvy order. 



The accompanying illustrations are ex- 

 cellent examples of tasteful decorations 

 for luncheon tables where doilies are 

 used. The one with the central bowl of 

 My Maryland roses, with valley outside, 

 all in delicate white china vases, is even 



better than the pink pond lilies and val- 

 ley in glass receptacles, but both these 

 are better than the china handled bas- 

 kets of rubrum lilies, simply because in 

 the latter the handles were too high. 



GOOD VILL TOKENS. 



The Wealth of Materials. 



Upon mentioning the subject of store 

 openings, a variety of offerings in the 

 shape of horseshoes, four-leaved clovers, 

 vases and baskets come to mind. The 

 horseshoe is now relegated to the cheap 

 trade. For the better class of customers 

 a handsome basket or vase of flowers is 

 considered in better taste. Of these any 

 number of arrangements can be put up, 

 according to the humor and the pocket- 

 book. Just now even an ordinary stock 

 presents attractive combinations, with 

 mums. Beauties, cosmos, besides the ever 

 present roses and carnations and the va- 

 rious autumn decorative materials, as 

 helps. 



Of all opportunities for informal and 

 artistic arrangements, none afford better 

 ones for brilliant effects than these offer- 

 ings for store decorations. But one other 

 calls for more gaiety in coloring and 

 freedom of arrangement, and that is the 

 theater bunch. Formal designs, more 

 strictly classed as funeral pieces, are 

 occasionally seen. As much the same style 

 of arrangement and the same selection 

 of flowers are used, even to the inevita- 

 ble adiantum, the suggestion to the re- 

 cipients, should they be at all familiar 

 with designs as originally used, would be 

 anything but congratulatory. Better send 



a gay piece to a funeral than a eondolenc* 

 to a new enterprise. Gather up the choic- 

 est products of the season and combine 

 in the most skillful manner possible. 



Tact in Educating Customers. 



' ' But, ' ' someone will object, ' ' We 

 must give the people what they want. If 

 a customer fancies a funeral design, done 

 in outrageous colors, for an opening, let 

 him have it by all means." But, on the 

 other hand, who taught this same cus- 

 tomer' what he ougkt to have for a fu- 

 neral design? Why, the same man who 

 allows him to buy any old thing for a 

 very different occasion. The florist is 

 supposed to display what the customer 

 should h^ve. He should either inform 

 himself as to what other dealers are of- 

 fering, or be able to invent appropriate 

 schemes himself. If his customers make 

 ridiculous demands, he may look to him- 

 self as responsible. It is just as much 

 a part of his work to educate the public 

 to appreciate the best in art in his line, 

 as it is to provide good stock for sale. 

 The public will sooner or later demand 

 the best display of taste, as well as qual- 

 ity, in flowers and plants. 



Of course, if he (or more often she), 

 after being instructed as to the question 

 of propriety and good taste with regard 

 to the shape in which flowers are to be 

 presented, still insists upon something 

 ridiculous, the customer would better get 

 just what he wants. But this rarely oc- 

 curs, for the majority of purchasers will 

 gladly accept suggestions if they are 

 tactfully offered. 



A Misplaced Funeral Piece. 



At a store opening recently there were 

 observed, among a nice selection of bas- 

 kets and bouquets, a star and crescent 

 made in precisely the same style as 

 though it were meant for a funeral. As 

 far as could be known, there was no 

 reason why this design should have been 

 selected. Occasionally such a design is 

 used as a trade-mark, and in this case 

 it would have been a happy selection and 

 should have been executed, in brilliant 

 colors. But, as it was, there was no such 

 distinction made. How much better it 



Low, Pure Wjjite China Receptacles for the Flowers for a Luncheon Table. 



