INTRODUCING — 
WALTER OERTEL 
Few people can understand what 
makes an accountant like his job 
of pouring over figures and papers 
day after day. The same may well 
hold true for the work of our per- 
sonality of the month. 
Amongst other duties, Walter 
Oertel grows in a year's time 
some 6000 Fuchsias, 10,000 Prim- 
ulas, 6000 Begonias and 4000 Pel- 
argoniums. Let no one make the 
mistake and think that growing a 
plant for sale is a simple matter. 
It takes feeding and budding, 
watering, potting and repotting, 
and all sorts of special care. The 
plants have to be ready at a cer- 
tain time, and when one group is 
sold the next one must be in 
salable condition. 
All this is second nature for 
Walter. He was born of two gen- 
erations of nurserymen near Dres- 
den, Germany. As was customary 
in that country, a trade was 
learned the hard way from the 
bottom up. And Walter really 
learned it, now having some 62 
years of experience. With the 
methodical mind often attributed 
to Germans, Walter can account 
for every one of his many plants 
as to age, color and longevity. He 
knows the turnover in his depart- 
ment probably better than anyone 
else in the whole nursery. 
This being Fuchsia time, why 
not take a look at his many beau- 
tiful "'creations'’ and if you don't 
agree that they are about the 
most beautiful plants you have 
ever seen, you don't even have to 
go and tell him about it. 
AN IMAGINARY (?) CONVERSATION 
Darkness at Dawn 
Scene: The Breakfast Table 
Dear, we still haven't. got a plant for the bay 
window to take the place of the one you took 
out because it grew so big.—O.K., O.K., PLL 
STOPS Alera ceNURSERYGON TITIES WAY: HOME 
AND PICK SOMETHING UP.—Now dear, why 
don't you let me get it. You know what happened 
last time you picked something up. It . . . —OH, 
SOMISDONT KNOW ANYTHIN'G ABOUT 
PLANTS, EH? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT 
RUBBER | REESOU Pe HERES BEST, ALOOKING 
eee ON@ TA EeephOGr a AND avi Ome GKey 
THAT OUT?—You did, darling. But the man did 
tell you that this kind was better suited for a large 
estate because the roots... —ALL RIGHT, ALL 
RIGHTS SO-HE WAS*WRONG; -LOOK AF It, 
IT'S PERFECT.—Maybe so, dear, but why is the 
sidewalk beginning to bulge? —NOW LOOK, LET'S 
NOT ARGUE ABOUT THAT TREE.— All right, 
dear, but | do wish you would let me pick out that 
plant for the bay window.—SAY, WHAT'S THE 
MATTER? DON'T YOU THINK I'M OLD ENOUGH 
TO BUY A PLANT?—All right, darling, you get 
the plant. But for Heaven's sake listen to what the 
man says about its habits—NOW FORGET IT. 
EE VANDEES TRUS: 
Later—The Nursery 
Good afternoon, sir—HELLO. SAY, | WANT 
Ae PEAN Te EOR sles FRONT OREM i hOUSE: 
LIKE SOMETHING WITH FLOWERS. — Yes sir. 
Right over here is an attractive shrub that... — 
WHAT COLOR FLOWERS DOES IT HAVE?— 
Pinks andesitea 2 —-DON DP OLIKE< PINK eSAY; 
We pse AlepUSEOVERSTEHERESWITHEALE 
THE FLOWERS?—That, sir, is called the Flame 
Bush. — HMM, NOT BAD, NOT BAD. NOW 
ie NiSeMORESTIKES Deri OWREONGeDOES: Ii 
BLOOM? — About three months. — BOY, SURE 
MAKES A SHOW. THINK I'LL TAKE THAT.— 
Yes sir. By the way, give this plant plenty of room. 
It's a large grower and... —WELL, IT CAN BE 
CUT BACK, CAN'T IT?—Yes, but . . . —THAT'S 
Oye CUT TIRE CANS CRG VAKESAT Wit ME, 
Breakfast—One Year Later 
Darling, don't you think it's getting a little 
dark in here?—YEAH, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO 
THE DAYLIGHT AROUND HERE?—Well, don't 
look now, dear, but isn't that the Flame Bush cov- 
ering up the bay window?—-YEAH, WHY DOESN'T 
THAT DUMB GARDENER CUT IT BACK?—Dear, 
he already has, three times—WELL, TELL HIM 
TO KEEP CUTTING IT BACK.—And everytime he 
does, it looks worse. It isn't supposed to be kept 
that low and it... —O.K., O.K., TELL HIM TO 
TAKE THESDARNS TING 2OUTe ELE-STOPOBY 
THE NURSERY THIS AFTERNOON AND PICK 
SOMELGING© Uies a eee. etc. 
