

APBIL 17, 1913. 



The Florists^ Review 



15 



tion. Quality has been produced, and 

 the retailer has had the opportunity 

 of the enormous output at a fairly rea- 

 sonable price. 



]n spite of these indisputable facts, a 

 <jupstion worthy of your most serious 

 consideration and analysis arises. Is 

 the popularity of the carnation on the 

 increase, or, in other words, has the 

 consumption increased in the same ra- 

 tio as our population and general ad- 

 vancement of ethics and prosperity? 

 Is the more frequent occurrence of spe- 

 cial sales on carnations a sign of the 

 in<reased popularity of the carnation, or 

 is it a sign of more or less overproduc- 

 tion? 



Neglecting the Fragrance. 



]u the dissemination of varieties, too 

 much stress seems to have been laid 

 on the color and size, the odor in most 

 cases having been lost sight of. In 

 years past, when our population was less 

 and the demand for carnations in pro- 

 portion was larger, we were blessed 

 with, though smaller blooms, more fra- 

 grant varieties. There is no doubt in 

 my mind that the spicy odor in the 

 carnation was a great factor in the 

 sale of these flowers, and with the pres- 

 ent advancement in salesmanship the 

 term "fragrant carnation" is almost 

 a thing impossible, and by virtue of this 

 lack of fragrance other flowers have be- 

 come greater competitors. 



Further, it seems necessary to infuse 

 a new strain of blood to overcome 

 the general and quite remarkable de- 

 cline of their keeping qualities. It 

 has become a serious problem, espe- 

 cially to the retailer. I believe that 

 unless a remedy is found there will be 

 a great difference in the sale of carna- 

 tions. We can all agree that already 

 other good, lasting flowers have found 

 their way to the flower shop as keen 

 competitors. This may not matter 

 much to the retailer, but it is very im- 

 portant to the carnation grower, and 

 there should be vigilant care and care- 

 ful scrutiny given to the many new in- 

 troductions offered each year, not per- 

 mitting them to be enrolled unless the 

 present defects are eliminated. 



I also wish to call your attention to 

 the well known lack of carnation blooms 

 during the summer months. Owing to 

 the failure of the aster, there seems to 

 be a field not yet covered. It is a fact 

 that the breeders of anemone and pom- 

 pon chrysanthemums are straining every 

 point to produce summer blooms, and 

 to my notion a carnation would fill the 

 hill as few other flowers will do. 



Action on Parcel Post. 



We have everlasting complaints con- 

 cerning the packing for shipment of 

 carnation blooms, and while it may be 

 out of place to bring it up now, it does 

 seem wise to caution many of our best 

 growers that some thought and study 

 should be given to overcome this ever 

 present criticism. 



Owing to the newness of the parcel 

 post, the powers that be are in a re- 

 ceptive mood and it seems timely that 

 suggestions be made. As the situation 

 lies, the government maintains as good 

 3nd better service between cities than 

 express companies. The only difficulty 

 so far is the delay of collections and de- 

 liveries in cities. If properly presented, 

 the government no doubt would supply 

 Proper schedules for the departure and 

 arrival of mail trains. This should lead 

 to a cheaper and safer transmission of 



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NEW PRESIDENT OF 

 THfe AMERICAN RdSE SOCIETY 



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WALLACE B. FIBBSON. 



WHEN the American Eose Society, at its meeting last week in New York, 

 selected Wallace E. Pierson as its president for the ensuing year it did it 

 for its own good, without consulting the recipient of the honor, who at the 

 moment was extremely busy staging exhibits in the National Flower Show. The 

 selection was solely because of the tremendous energy Mr. Pierson is these days 

 putting into everything he undertakes — and the rose men recognize that just 

 now that trade society that can command youth and enthusiasm is indeed 

 fortunate. Mr. Pierson is the active working force in the business of A. N. 

 Pierson, Inc., Cromwell, Conn., and is the head of the publicity committee of 

 the S. A. F. 



our products than now exists, espe- 

 cially in the plant line. 



The past year has been anything but 

 satisfactory in the addition of new 

 members. The root of this trouble 

 should be found and a remedy provided. 



It has been said that there is no 

 inducement for those interested to be- 

 come members of our society, for the 

 reason that they can procure all the 

 information and benefits on the outside; 

 further, that there is practically no 

 barrier for non-members getting all 

 the benefits, and I believe that it is 

 true. This brings to mind the old doc- 

 trine, "A society for its members," and 

 perhaps it will be necessary that such 

 a rule be adopted and adhered to. There 

 is no doubt that the society which hews 

 closer to a policy of not spreading its 

 news broadcast is more attractive to a 

 joiner, and I can see reason why a new 

 policy should be well considered and in 

 the end insure the society against disin- 

 tegration. 



Time of Annual Meetings. 



The time for holding our meetings, 

 which had been adopted originally as 

 the third week in January, seems yet 

 to be much favored; in fact, the hold- 

 ing of our exhibitions at that time 

 seems to be more favorable and prac- 

 tical. This may not agree with my 

 past argument, which was to the effect 

 of closer relation with the Eose So- 

 ciety and other kindred societies, espe- 

 cially for the purpose of holding joint 

 exhibitions such as we enjoyed in De- 

 troit and are now enjoying in New 

 York. It may be too soon to discuss 

 this question, but my idea is that it 

 is important to hold the meeting of 

 the Carnation Society when the season 

 is most appropriate. 



The policy of free exhibitions prop- 

 erly managed an^ restricted, as was 

 planned originally and met with much 



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