File:Florists' review (microform) (16057249514).jpg

Title: Florists' review (microform)
Identifier: 5205536_22_1 (find matches)
Year: [1] (s)
Authors:
Subjects: Floriculture
Publisher: Chicago : Florists' Pub. Co
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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May 21, 1908. The Weekly Florists' Review. 19 feet in form, and. still, such is the mild- ness of the climate of the south coast of England, more than one winter passed without the fires being lighted to heat this house. In this beautiful garden were not only the rarest exotic plants, including for those days a grand collection of or- chids, almost all the economic plants, and exotic fruits, grown to perfection, but the highest type of landscape art was exemplified. The beauty of the place attracted many visitors and Mr. Scott was privileged to see many of the illustrious men and women of Europe who came there to enjoy that beauty. When the subject of this sketch was 17 years of age his father removed to Chichester, where he rented the North- gate Nurseries. Mr. Scott worked in the nursery, greenhouses and seed store of his father till the spring of 1868, ex- cept for two years during which he was employed in the seed store of W. H. Eogers, of Southampton, famous as a most estimable man and as a good grow- er of rhododendrons. In the spring of 1868 a spirit of adventure came over the young man, his brother, Alex, and his friend, E. I. Mepsted. Canada was settled upon as the place to which to emigrate, but the good father said: Boys, the United States is the place for you, and I have many friends there. James Fleming, then in partnership with Peter Henderson, was one of the old Leigh Park men. Robert Buist, of Philadelphia, and Mr, Brackenridge, of Baltimore, were old associates of the older Scott in Edinburgh. David Fer- guson, of Philadelphia, was another Leigh Park man, and there were others in the United States. The watering can was thrown down one Saturday night in March, with the expec- tation that it was never to be handled again, and the trio were off for the back- Avoods of Canada to trap and hunt and get in close communion with the redmen of the primeval forest. A look at the forest, about three miles up Yonge street, Toronto, was enough for the party, and through the kindness of George Les- lie, the nurseryman, the party was quick- ly back at the old trade. The follow- ing winter Mr. Scott was in the employ of James Pape, who grew plants for the Toronto market. The summer of 1869 they tried market gardening and the seed business in Stratford, Ont. There were too many in the firm, as was evi- denced during the dull months when the gross receipts of the day amounted to not over $1.25. So they paid their bills and through his old friend, George Vair, Mr. Scott engaged with George Bailey, of Buffalo, who was then one of Buffalo's most prosperous manufacturers and was building a fine private place. Mr. Scott was imported to work for him in 1870. In 1876, through the declining business of his employer, he was almost compelled to rent the houses, quite a little com- mercial growing having been done in the preceding two years. These houses he conducted profitably for three years, but in the second one he secured the prop- erty on Balcom street, where he lived for more than three decades. Mr. Scott always spoke modestly of his establish- ment as of but moderate size, but while • this may be true to a certain extent, his place always ranked with the larger ones and nowhere were plants and flowers bet- tor grown. Quality always was sought rather than quantity, and the former ^^as found to pay better than the latter.
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mia William Scott. though Mr. Scott came pretty near get- ting both. A beautiful note in Mr. Scott's charac- ter was his sincere affection for his ex- cellent wife. In referring to his early struggles in business he freely accorded her the credit for his success, and said that without the help of his most true and loving helpmate he never could have accomplished what he did. Mr. Scott carried on a general florists' business in Buffalo, the home place being almost in the geographical center of the city, but after a few years the demand for more stock caused him to acquire a piece of acre property at Corfu, a few miles outside the city, where a range of glass was put up for cut flowers. The business covers all the various di- visions of the trade and, together with his early training, this accounts for his familiarity with such a wide range of subjects. This being supplemenl:ed by' a wonderfully retentive memory and a pe- culiarly happy, clear and graceful style of composition, made him the most val- ued contributor to the trade press. The art of telling a great deal in a few words was possessed by Mr. Scott to a remark- able degree. BuJ his popularity does not rest solely upon his writings. He beUeved in visiting his fellow craftsmen, and traveled extensively. He was good fellowship personified and to meet him was to feel he was your friend, if you were worthy of such friendship. We question if anyone in the trade was more generally known or more universally es- teemed than William Scott. Mr. Scott was an active participant, up to the last couple of years, in the affairs of our trade societies. He was president of the Society of American Florists in 1896 and his ready wit, coupled with his grasp of the situation, made him a prominent figure in the an- nual conventions of that society, the Carnation Society, and other trade bodies. In speaking of himself, Mr. Scott has said: " I do not wish to be judged by what I am worth, but by what I have earned and done," and one of the chief accomplishments of his life, and that of Mrs. Scott, was the raising of a splendid family. As the sons grew to manhood they assumed the father's business cares, both at the city place and at Corfu, where David Scott now lives with a fine family of his own. R. A. Scott manages the home place. The business was incor- porated as the Wm. Scott Co. about five years ago, when the boys took the active management. One son, Phil Scott, went to Denver several years ago and eventu- ally started in the retail business for himself. One daughter also survives, with the widow, and there is a sister, Mrs. Henry Sadler, at the old family home at Chichester, England. The funeral will be held today, May 21, and will be attended by the Buffalo Florists' Club in a body and by many members of the trade from outside Buf- falo. Mystic, Conn.—J. Henry Schaffer is becoming well established in business here and is winning a steadily increasing patronage. He does a general plant and cut flower trade. -U.. .-.^..i..A..twM"* 'If Z-■-.,■■:. y-.

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