156 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Since you are in business try to be ready to fill any and every 

 order received, whether it calls for a floral clock, a broken wheel 

 or a blazing star. The investment required for the wire designs 

 doesn't amount to much, but their possession may mean much to 

 you in cash returns as well as the good will of a patron when you 

 have a hurry-up order to fill. 



What About Artificial Flowers? 



Why not ? There is a place for them, in the case of the out- 

 of-town florist especially, and occasionally they can be used to 

 advantage. It isn't natural for a florist with houses full of stock 

 ready to cut and use in design work to prefer paper or waxed flowers 

 instead, but there are times when flowers are at a premium and when 

 artificial flowers will answer every bit as well. And there are cases 

 in which wreaths are to be used for grave decorations, when a patron 

 will actually prefer the artificial to the fresh cut flowers. 



Floral decorations for a store, hall or church can often consist 

 partly of artificial flowers, and answer the purpose every bit as 

 well as the best Roses or Carnations you could cut. It isn't that I 

 want to advocate the use of artificial flowers whenever and wherever 

 it is possible. But I am sure the florist who insists that it is un- 

 professional to consider them and that they have noplace in a first- 

 class establishment, is making a mistake. A few doUars invested 

 in a few boxes of such flowers kept handy, might easily prove a 

 mighty good thing. And I don't know that there is much difference 

 between such material and a lifeless, preserved Magnolia leaf, to 

 the use of which I am sure no florist would object. 



