Mabch 23, 1911. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



21 



THE WILSONS OF BOCHESTEB. 



More than a quarter of a century ago 

 Hiram E, Wilson began the cultivation 

 of flowers on an extensive scale, first 

 as a wholesale grower and later in the 

 retail field. As the business increased 

 in volume, Mr. Wilson soon discovered 

 that one of his most valuable assets 

 was a trio of ambitious sons, who be- 

 lieved there was an opportunity to es- 

 tablish a trade that would increase 

 from year to year and eventually give 

 each of them a department under his 

 own management. 



So these three boys — Edwin P., 

 Hiram W. and Eansford W. — were in- 

 troduced to the routine work of the 

 greenhouse and potting benches, as well 

 as the outdoor tasks in the hot sun. 

 And the boys stuck to the job, learning 

 the unpleasant parts of the work as well 

 as the pleasant, until any one of them 

 could perform any task about the place 

 and do if right, too. Then came a course 

 of training in the retail store. Here, 

 again, the spirit of "staying on the 

 job" showed itself, and it soon became 

 apparent that the time had come for 

 a change in the management of the 

 business, and that each one should be 

 given a special department. 



Edwin P. Wilson, the oldest son, had 

 developed a talent for managing a re- 

 , tail' store, and to him fell the work of 

 caring for the store located at 88 Main 

 street, east. As Eochester increased 

 in population the Wilson business in- 

 creased, and the greenhouses were taxed 

 to the utmost to supply the demands 

 made by this store. 



Then came another change. The old 

 greenhouses were remodeled, new ones 

 of the most improved type were erected, 

 and the entire supervision of the green- 

 houses and fields was assumed by Hiram 

 W. Wilson. When a man loves his 

 work he usually makes a success of it; 

 here is, indeed, a successful greenhouse 

 manager, one who watches details, who 

 handles a force of from fifteen to 

 twenty men without friction and gets 

 the best there is in them. In connec- 

 tion with the houses is a retail store 

 that is also under Hiram W. 's manage- 

 ment. Some idea of Hiram W. Wilson's 

 duties may be gleaned from the fact 

 that over two acres of land are under 

 glass, and over twenty acres under 

 cultivation. Carnations, mums and roses 

 receive the greatest attention, although 

 somewhere on the place one can find 

 almost anything needed for a general 

 retail florist's trade. 



About four years ago the time seemed 

 opportune to open another retail store 

 and the Eochester Floral Co. made its 

 first opening at 375 Main street, east, 

 under the management of Eansford W. 

 Wilson. This store was a success from 

 the start, but building changes on Main 

 street made a removal necessary a little 

 more than a year ago, and new quar- 

 ters were found at 245 Main street,east. 

 Eansford W. is the real estate manager 

 for H. E, Wilson, looking after some- 

 thing like twenty-five pieces of invest- 

 ment property in various parts of the 

 city, as well as the property interests 

 in the town of Irondequoit. 



Hiram E. Wilson is still an active 

 man, but has in a great measure placed 

 the responsibilities of the large and 

 increasing business on the shoulders of 

 the boys, and serves now in an advisory 

 capacity. D-uring the last summer, how- 

 ever, he took an active part in the 

 planting of a 16-acre field of stock, 

 hardly a day passing that he was not on 



Edwin P. Wilson. 



the ground, noting the progress of the 

 plants, offering advice and suggestions 

 and otherwise showing that his heart 

 was still in the work of growing and 

 caring for flowers. E. F. E. 



BOSTON. 



The Market. 



Business was quite poor last week. We 

 had a hot spell followed by a severe cold 

 wave and later by rain. Of white roses 

 there is as yet no surplus, but all other 

 varieties are abundant and lower in price. 

 Among other varieties some excellent 

 Chatenay are noted and My Maryland 

 is seen of improved quality. The Killar- 

 neys, however, remain the most popular 

 varieties. Carnations are arriving in un- 

 wieldy numbers and are increasingly dif- 

 ficult to clean up. Among the light pinks 

 Fair Maid is beginning to assert itself. 

 This is an excellent summer variety and 

 one which holds its color well. Single 

 violets are still abundant and of -good 

 quality. The present month will, how- 

 ever, finish all of these, except such as are 

 growing in coldfyames. Sweet peas con- 

 tinue abundant and many are of grand 

 quality. There is still a wide range in 

 prices, the short-stemmed ones being dif- 

 ficult to dispose of. 



Callas and lilfts continue overpleatiful, 

 as is lily of the valley. ]\Iarguerites con- 

 tinue to sell freely and there is no trou- 

 ble in selling all good flowers of both 

 white and yellow. Dutch bulbous stock 

 is still somewhat of a glut, tulips, nar- 

 cissi and hyacinths all being overabun- 

 dant, with prices tending downward. 

 English primroses are becoming quite 



plentiful and sell well. Myosotis is :i 

 glut and hard to move. Antirrhinums of 

 taking shades of color .are selling well. 

 Mignonette moves slowly. Gardenias are 

 abundant and selling slowly. In orchids, 

 cattleyas are getting scarce, but coelo- 

 gynes and dendrobiums are plentiful. 

 Adiantum is now of better quality. As- 

 paragus Sprengeri and plumosus are -i 

 slower sale. Plant sales continue to pick 

 up. 



Club Meeting. 



A big and enthusiastic gathering 

 March 21, this being the meeting imme- 

 diately preceding the S. A. F. show and 

 convention. The report of the banquet 

 committee was read and showed a balance 

 on the right side. Donors of cut flowers 

 and plants were thanked and special 

 thanks were tendered George M. Ander- 

 son for his decorations. Thomas Pegler, 

 chairman of the S. A. F. entertainment 

 committee, reported that contributions 

 had come in satisfactorily and that every- 

 thing pointed to a record gathering at the 

 club reception to be tendered to visiting 

 guests in Paul Eevere hall March 29, and 

 not :March 30, as incorrectly announced 

 in the ofticial program. All arrangements 

 had been perfected for the reception and 

 a first-class caterer and orchestra engaged. 

 W. H. Elliott spoke for the Eose Society, 

 Wm. Sim for the Sweet Pea Society, 

 Mr. Farquhar and others for the S. A. F. 

 show committee. Every foot of space is 

 taken in the trade display and there are 

 as many as twelve entries in some of the 

 competitive classes. The club offers a 

 prize of $50 for six acacias. 



Owing to the near approach of the big 

 show, exhibits were fewer than usual. 



