File:Florists' review (microform) (16486783118).jpg

Title: Florists' review (microform)
Identifier: 5205536_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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Deckmbku 2, 1897. The Weekly Florists^ Review*
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William ScotU caenas, all palms and ferns, including Adiantum Farleyense, Cyperus altemifo- lius (green and variegated), crotons, and many other pretty plants, also difiFerent varieties of oerried sprays. H. A. B. VILLIAM SCOTT. We present herewith an excellent por- trait of Mr. William Scott, of Buffalo, N. Y., who is undoubtedly the most popular writer on matters connected with the trade, and who, we are pleased to be able to say, will in future confine his corre- spondence to the Fi,oRisTs' Review. Mr. Scott's versatility has been a con- stant source of amazement to the writer of these lines, who early poted his ability and encouraged him to write more and more freely for the trade press. No ques- tion referred to him seems to have been too complicated for him to answer, and many times matters outside of a strictly trade character have been treated as ably as they would have been by a .specialist and in a far more practical and entertain- ing manner. Mr. Scott carries on a general florists' btisiness in Buffalo. He has a down town store and 'has an acre of land in almost the geographical center of the city and 30,000 feet of glass. Also 12 acres of land in the village of Corfu, near Buf- falo, with 18,000 feet of glass. The latter establishment is devoted almost entirely to the production of cut flowers. His business covers all the various divisions of the trade and this accounts for his familiarity with such a wide range of subjects. This being supplemented by a wonderfully retentive memory aud a pe- culiarly happy, clear and graceful style of composition, has made him the most valued contributor to the trade press. But his popularity does not rest solely up- on his writings. He believes in visiting his fellow craftsmen and has traveled ex- tensively. He is good fellowship personi- fied and to meet him is to feel he is your friend, if you are worthy of such friend- ship. We question if anyone in the trade is now more generally known or more universally esteenwd than William Scott, and his able administration of the office of President of the Society of American Florists is fresh in the memories of all. Mr. Scott was born July 31, 1844, at Leigh Park, Hampshire, England, the country home of Sir George Thomas Staunton, one of the finest gardens in Europe, where his father was head-gar- dener for 27 years, h e attended a pri- vate school in the neighboring town of Havant till he was 13 years of age at which time the schoolmaster became in- sane, but Mr. Scott says this was not his fault. He began work in the garden shortly after this and the first job of gar- dening he can remember doing for wages was weeding chrysanthemums that had been cut down after flowering and were standing in pots under the shelter of a hedge. At 15 years of age he had the care of a conservatory that had to l)e so scrupulously clean and neat that the petal of a camellia must not be seen on the snow white paths or the trim kept border. Among the plants in this old- fashioned house (which he says he has since often dreamed he was neglecting) was a Phormium tenax some six feet across, oranges of various species or varieties that yielded bushels of fruit, an Acacia pubescens that went to the roof, and a grand specimen of Araucaria excelsa ten feet high and perfect in form, and still, such is the mildness 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 orchids, almost all the economic plants, and ex- otic fruits, gn'own to perfection, but the highest type of landscape art was exem- plified. The beauty of the place attracted many visitors and. Mr. Scott was priv- ileged to see many of the illustrious men and women of Eurqpe who came there to enjoy that beauty. The old baronet cared nothing for fox hunting, shooting or any other sport that enters into the life of a rural landlord in England. He liked to have as his guests the brightest lights of England, to talk botany to Sir Joseph Hooker, and to be known as the greatest authority in Western Europe on China and the Chinese language. He had spent many years of his earlier life as an attache of the British embassy in the land of the "almond eyes." When the subject of this sketch was 17 years of age his father removed to Chi- chester, where he rented the Northgate Nurseries. Mr. Scott worked in the nur- sery, greenhouses and seed store of his father till the spring of 1868, except for two years during which he was employed in the seed store of Mr. W. H. Rogfers, of Southampton, famous as a most estimable man and as a good grower of rhododen- drons. In the spring of 1868 a spirit of adventure came over the young man, his brother, and his friend Mr. E. I. Mepsted Australia was the objective point, but was too far away. Then Port Natal was men- tioned, but still too far away to please the loving parents. Canada was settled upon as a compromise, but the good father said: "Boys, the United States is the place for you, and I have many friends there." James Fleming, then in partner-

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