File:The American florist - a weekly journal for the trade (1916) (17955664260).jpg

Title: The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade
Identifier: americanfloristw53amer (find matches)
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors: American Florists Company
Subjects: Floriculture; Florists
Publisher: Chicago : American Florist Company
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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igi6. The American Florist. 881
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NEW ROSE LOS ANGELES. my mind, accounts for the rather loose, and in many respects impracti- cal, working conditions existing- in most businesses as well as ours. I em- phasize these points for the purpose of showing that there is no special cause for criticising the working conditions of our business, our industry being yet so young. It is, however, meet and proper that we. a body of mer- chants, knowing the value and im- portance of sowing good seed, make due endeavor to build healthy and practical working conditions. Looking back 22 years I can see the marvelous progress made in the de- velopment and increase of varieties of plants and cut flowers and in the so-called ornamental branch of our business, as well as in the general dis- tribution of the stock from grower to the public; also in the working con- ditions for employees as well as em- ployers, due primarily to the early pioneers to whom we must give great credit and honor for their foresight, diligence and perseverance, and to the various horticultural organizations. Whatever recommendations I shall make are so made in good faith, with malice towards none, feeling and be- lieving that there is great room for improvement in our economic struc- ture; further, that such improvement can only be obtained by intelligent and practical co-operation, combined with the spirit of idealism. The prin- cipal is so simple, works so automati- cally. Some call it the new thought, the advance thought. It is an axiom- atic truth, that by building for your- self, you automatically build for otn- ers. By tearing down otners, you au tomatically destroy yourself in time. No matter how scheming and formid- able a man may be he cannot harm others without harming himself. It may take a generation or a lifetime, but there is no escaping ultimate de- struction, and I am not superstitious. A man who is vindictive, over suspi- cious and shortshighted, cannot be a builder in the true sense of the word, not forgetting, of course, that one must be cautious and reasonably con- servative. The man who is success- ful in life and constantly grappling with new and interesting problems, has no time to nurse a grudge; also, men must learn that it is useless to try to keep down, or in other words, to retard the progress of a formidable individual. It is safer and better to think and act along the lines of the thought and policy of live and let live. In this country progress is made by leaps and bounds—the small man of to-day is the big man of tomorrow, and it behooves every merchant to 3 vail himself of all opportunities for the advancement of his own interest, even though he may feel that in do- ing so, he would also benefit his con- temporaries. When approaching my subject. "The Economic Structure of the Flower Business", I feel that I could not do so comprehensively from any other angle than that of the eco- nomic condition of the entire country. I realize that my task is not only diffi- cult, but so vast that compared with a large field, approachable from so many different angles, I do not know with which phase of the question to commence. I am trying to keep in mind also the fact that you, Mr. President and gentlemen, are volun- tary listeners and I must not talk too long, for fear I may tire you, there- fore, I will discuss only a portion of the many phases. This brings me to one of the phases that I will discuss, which in my opinion is a most im- portant problem, important because to my mind it is a practical and eco- nomic medium for the further great development of our art and industry. I refer to the question of flower shows. Of all the arts, none is so univer- sally wholesome and inspiring, none so universally appealing as the cul- ture of flowers and plants. The hu- man mind when in distress, when ill. when in need of a helpful thought, will respond more freely and grate- fully to the flower than to anything else. As an industry, floriculture, to- gether with its necessary accessories, can surely be regarded as legitimate. To make the flower show act as the powerful agent it is intended to be, it is to be hoped that each ambitious and faithful member of our craft shall avail himself of the great advantage thus derivable. The clear duty of each individual, and each of our va- rious organizations, is to co-operate in and conduct these shows in such a manner as to encourage a great many exhibitors as well as a large attend- ance. Box oSice receipts should only be a secondary consideration. In

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