File:The American florist - a weekly journal for the trade (1914) (17522620413).jpg

Title: The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade
Identifier: americanfloristw50amer (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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/p/^. The American Florist. 703 much, and the box should always be turned up to let all surplus water run off, or it may soften it to such an extent that the tape cuts through while being carried, and it is then in bad condition to deliver. Tape Is better than string with which to tie the box up. After the tie is made, many florists take, the time to seal the ends of the tape with sealing wax and stamp it with their name. This is^so that no inquiring minds may see the contents or perchance the card, and it also insures the full comple- ment of flowers. The addition of a spray on the outside, of outdoor flowers or foliage of the season makes a box more attractive. Sprigs of holly, a pine branch with cones, dog- wood sprays or other spring blossoms, or a few dahlies or other flowers in their time, show that attention has been given to make the box attractive. K. Give the Boy a Chance. There is ofttimes much latent talent about the flower shop that for one rea- son or another remains hidden and dormant. The errand boys come in, at first shy and diffident, a condition, however, which soon wears away and then they become a part of the force, active and quick, or dull and slow to pick up, depending on their ability. Some are naturally tidy and orderly, others quite the reverse. When the dull times come and the force is re- duced the one who has proved his worth remains, while the other, with- out the initiative, has to seek another job. Competent assistants are the life of every business; men who are loyal to the firm, who have its interests at heart, who work early and late when occa.sion requires. They may be er- rand boys, drivers, first assistants and so on up to the manager, each giving the best that is in him, doing his duty as he sees it. Such intelligent effort is sure to be rewarded by promotion, with an increase in salary, or if not. by added confidence in his own ability that soon carries him forward to some- thing better. As a rule "home grown" talent is the best. New men are at times en- gaged for advanced positions on ac- count of their supposed superior abil- ity, but ofttimes for some reason do not make good. The position of man- ager or other important secondary job becomes vacant, it would seem as if no one was just at this time available for the place. The next in line tempo- rarily takes up the work, and to the surprise of everybody in a short time proves if anything more competent than his predecessor; the responsibil- ity spurs him on, brings out his latent talent and his, ambition does the rest. There is many a worker who could do much better for the firm were he given the chance. The errand boys should very soon be taught how to moss up a frame; they will soon take a pride in the work if encouraged by a good word now and then when they deserve it. A good, observant boy will ofttimes try to Improve him- self by slyly doing some advanced work, but is at once called down by men higher up, who forget thej' had to pass through just such an expe- rience. Force of circumstances at times gives the opportunity long looked for. Work %» be gotten out, sickness or other cause temporarily
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CLUSTER OF CYCAS LEAVES, LILY OF THE VAL'^EY AND VIOLETS. lessens the force. Everybody helps, the young fellow gets his chance, makes up work that astonishes the "boss," who did not think it was in him. Many a man gets his start in this way by being ready and taking advantage of the opportunity. Boys who have had a little experience can be trusted to put up boxes of cut flowers, which is at times a great help. Show them how, keep an eye on them, correct their mistakes and give en- couraging words when they succeed, and they will soon take a pride in their work. A bright boy with this knowledge can be of great assistance in a store when with some of the help temporarily absent and an influx of customers to he waited on at once, he can pack the flowers selected and leave the salesman free for other cus- tomers. Encourage a boy to be tidy in his appearance; it adds to his self-respect. All delivery boys should be dressed in uniforms with the name of the firm on the cap; it is worth much more than it costs. Every messenger so dressed is a living advertisement for the store wherever he goes, being admitted to the house and trusted where a plain clothes boy would be asked to wait outside. Give the boy a chance; it will pay. New Haven, Conn.—The annual ex- hibition of the New Haven County Horticultural Society opened Septem- ber 16. The attendance was good and there was a very large number of ex- hibits, the show in this respect it is believed being better than its prede- cessors. Some of the dahlias shown were exceptionally beautiful. K.'VNSAS CITY, Mo.—Twelve men in the employ of the park department could not dig up the petunias in the sunken gardens at Twelfth street and the Paseo October !». fast enough to sat- isfy the demands of the hundreds who came to get free flowers. The park de- partment gave away all the flower plants in the city's parks that must be removed for the winter. Two thousand petunias were given away at the sunk- en gardens in five minutes.

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