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The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



JANUAKY 19, 1911. 



and upper arcs of the wreath after it 

 has been filled as for an ordinary piece. 

 Let the streamers fall over the larger 

 flowers used in the base. 



On Baskets and In Windows. 



From the tall handle of a large basket 

 for whatever purpose, if a chiffon tie is 

 used, hang a light shower of a color 

 which shall harmonize with the color 

 scheme of the basket. It need not en- 

 velop tlie basket, but should hang over 

 one side of the handle and well toward 

 the base of the basket. 



Many of these plans may be used for 

 window decorations, and can be lasting 

 if the sprays of green and flowers are 

 set in Kift vases. 



Many flowers, by their style of ar- 

 rangement on the stem, make natural 

 shower material; for instance, swain- 

 sona, asparagus in bloom, smilax in 

 bloom, etc. 



Gertrude Blair. 



A WOODMEN'S DESIGN. 



In estimating the merits of the Mod- 

 ern Woodmen's design which is here 

 illustrated, the excellence of the work 

 will he more readily admitted if the 

 reader agrees with a statement recently 

 made by one of The Eeview's corre- 

 spondents in regard to this particular 

 sort of design. The correspondent re- 

 ferred to, writing on 'the subject of 

 "Society Emblems in Flowers," in the 

 issue of December 29, pronounces the 

 Woodmen's design one of the most dif- 

 ficult to execute, and then adds: "To 

 my way of thinking, the best way to 

 make the design is by placing a small 

 sized woodmen's ax on a panel nicely 

 trimmed with flowers, and the word- 



be wished. The sledge hammer and log, 

 made of light pink carnations, and the 

 ax and wedge, made of red carnations, 

 are all suflBciently clear in outline and 

 sufficiently artistic. The parts which 

 bear the lettering are finished in white 

 carnations. The slender bordering of 

 smilax, with the projecting points of 

 the fern fronds, makes an effective 

 finishing touch. 



Mr. Evans is now manager for J. F. 

 Ammann, at Alton, 111. 



WHAT'S IN THE BOX? 



Or How Do Appearances Coiint? 



The manner in which flowers are de- 

 livered frequently counts for more than 

 the flowers themselves. Who would 

 not rather receive a gift of two-dollar- 

 a-dozen roses carefully packed in a 

 neat, clean box, with a spray or two of 

 adiantum or mignonette, than a huge 

 bunch of Beauties in a paper gaping at 

 the top or frayed at the bottom, and 

 tied with a cotton string? I should like 

 to meet the person who is more easilj' 

 tempted by a manila bag of the finest 

 candy than by a commonplace brand 

 displayed immaculately in a dainty box 

 or basket. I am willing to admit a 

 weakness for attractive umbrella han- 

 dles, to the neglect of the quality of 

 the cover. 



Genius in rags never did commend 

 itself. 



Fine quality of flowers in slouchy 

 pacKages never gained a patron. 



The Best Box. 



But neither were gaudy boxes ever 

 fitting receptacles, nor helpful in de- 

 veloping the best in flowers and foliage. 



A Woodmen's Design by H. G. Evans. 



ing, 'Modern Woodmen,' on a back- 

 ground of white flowers." 



If there are special diflSculties in the 

 working out of the Woodmen's design, 

 th^ difficulties seem to have been pretty 

 thoroughly overcome by H. G. Evans, 

 the designer in the present instance. 

 He has succeeded in making the various 

 details of the piece as distinct, and at 

 the same time as graceful, as could well 



Richness of quality, modesty in color, 

 absence of decoration, good taste in 

 printing mark the artist of the box. 



A good grade of board is always the 

 cheapest box, as it better stands hand- 

 ling and requires no decoration. In 

 color it may be cream, white, gray or 

 dull green, without colored lining. One 

 of these colors will serve as a trade- 

 mark, and should belong to the store. 



like the style of script or the stationery 

 design. 



No color wears better than a cream 

 or gray for the lifetime of a store. 

 Little besides the name and location 

 should appear on the box, and if the 

 firm is well known the address may be 

 omitted. An inconspicuous trade-mark 

 may sometimes be worked in to advan- 

 tage. 



Special boxes for special flowers, as 

 for violets, are not often happy selec- 

 tions, except as to size. Their colors 

 cannot approach the living hues of the 

 flowers and had better not be at- 

 tempted. A white violet box without 

 a picture or the printed word "vio- 

 lets" is in the best taste. 



While speaking of violet boxes, we 

 should be generous with the length of 

 them. Don't stub the toes of your flow- 

 ers. Since the single violets with long 

 stems have come so much into vogue 

 we ought to have offered to us a spe- 

 cial violet box of good depth and 

 length, say twelve to fifteen inches, 

 which will carry not only a round 

 bunch of good size, but a showered 

 corsage. A little clip fastened in the 

 inside of the bottom, to hold a bunch 

 in place when the box is turned on end 

 or upside down, would be convenient. 

 The same arrangement would be a good 

 scheme for securing an arm burst or a 

 shower bouquet in its place in the box. 



Tinted lining for boxes should be 

 kept in the neutral colors. Who hasn't 

 had his eyes hurt by seeing a pink-lined 

 box used for scarlet carnations or yel- 

 low daffodils? The same holds true of 

 the waxed paper which is the final lin- 

 ing of the box. White and manila are 

 the only sure colors. Where several 

 colors can be kept in stock for different 

 flowers, the case is different. One can 

 then choose the correct thing. 



Although good boxes add to the ex- 

 pense account, it costs more to do with- 

 out them. 



Speaking of refined aeessories recalls 

 a story told by a student who never 

 realized till years had elapsed how he 

 had been treated by his landlady of 

 college days. She served only bread 

 and sauce for tea every night. But the 

 linen was immaculate, the silver was 

 polished and, with good cheer, the bal- 

 ance of the menu was not missed. 



Gertrude Blair. 



ST. VALENTINE'S DAY. 



Retail florists should not lose sight 

 of St. Valentine's day; it is a day that 

 has been rapidly growing in importance 

 in the last few years. Push for busi- 

 ness and February 14 you can do sev- 

 eral times your usual daily average. 

 Flowers are much more acceptable val- 

 entines than are even the f rilliest of 

 the tissue-paper creations with the 

 amorous verse. 



To get action for St. Valentine's day 

 you need only to call attention to the 

 suitability of flowers for that day's 

 purpose. Use your show window; you 

 cannot dress it too "heartily" for the 

 week before. Most of the valentines 

 from the florist's take the form of cor- 

 sage bouquets, more or less elaborate, 

 or simple boxes of loose cut flowers 

 Have both in your window. Plan the 

 decorations now. Begin early, with 

 just a suggestion of Valentine's day in 

 your display, and work up to a full 

 Valentine's window to go in February 

 11 and continue to include February 14. 

 Last year one retailer bought a big, 

 flossy paper affair after the most ap- 



