not mean to speak disparagingly of the great results accomplished by practical men. Far from it. But the results accomplished, be it remembered, are not because of a lack of college training, but in spite of it.
Horticulture had begun to make its strides. In some quarters, a cry was raised to halt. For a time we heard so much about too much building and the danger of over-production. Such cries of alarm might have been expected. No movement has ever been started on its way without opposition. The progressive elements in our trade never heeded that warning, realizing that far from reaching the limit, our business was still in its embryo, and that its possibilities were practically unlimited. Why, is not our country grow-ing? Are not our towns and cities almost doubling themselves in population? Thus far, they reason, our product has found its way among the rich; but how about the rest of the people, the great mass that outnumbers the rich in the ratio of fifty to one? Why should not our product appeal to them as well? And why should we not put it within their reach? It is up to us, said these progressive ones, to educate the people, to spread the gospel of beauty among them.
The Birth of Flower Shows
How to educate the mass was a question easily solved. The flower show would do the work. Let us make our flower shows popular and attractive; let the people see for themselves what we are trying to do for them. Let us convince the great mass that our art is not intended for the rich only, that we mean to bring it within their reach; in short, that we intend to beautify the humblest home as well as the stateliest of mansions.
The idea was a capital one, and flower shows became the recognized order of things among the florists. That the work thus undertaken and carried on was productive of good results was no longer questioned even by the most bitter opponents of the innovation after its first few trials. The rank and file responded to the call, and it was an inspiration to the writer in the earlier days of his travels to see men and women of the humbler ranks crowd eagerly into the halls to view "God's fairest creations."
International Flower Shows
From the local flower show to the international ones was but a short step. The first attempt of this kind, as everyone in the trade will well remember, was made in St. Louis, Mo., during the Louisiana exposition. A few earnest men gathered at the old Sherman House in Chicago, and launched the enterprise. A hurried call was issued to a good many growers, setting forth the advantages of a flower show in connection with the great Louisiana exposition. An enterprise of the sort required money. A subscription was made among the few promoters of it, but more was needed. In a circular letter sent out broadcast, it was urged that the recipient subscribe any amount he saw fit for a guarantee fund. Quite a number saw the advantages that would accrue to the trade, and readily responded. The majority, however, paid no attention to the call, although they soon realized the fallacy of their lack of interest. That enterprise proved to be a great success. Thousands upon thousands of people cheerfully paid their admission to view the flower show. A handsome sum was realized, and every subscriber to the guarantee fund received his money back plus a handsome dividend. If I remember rightly, but one-fifth of the amount subscribed was called for. The money returned was double the amount paid in.
