The morning call., 1893-10-14
FLOWER AUCTION.
The Meeting of the State
Floral Society.
The Director General of the Fair
Asks the Society to Lay Out All
the Exposition Grounds.

A perfect garden of flowers graced the
day afternoon. '1t is better than flower
show" people were heard to remark. and
others, who had attended the Worlds Fair.
stated that they had never seen such roses
all the lime they were in the East.
The custom of the society's members
making a flower display at each meeting
was only inaugurated few months ago.
At first the exhibits were meager, but the
plan has steadily grown in favor. and yes
terday the ia bles could scarcely accommo-
date the wealth of cut flowers that was
displayed upon them. Many of the men,
bers brought their exhibits in vases whose
coloring harmoniZed with the contents.
President E. j. Wickson in particular
showed some rich red ctrysanthem in
a terra-cotta bowl, which formed with
the tender green of asparagus leaves a
particularly artistic bit of color.
At the conclusion of the meeting men,
bers voted upon the merits of the exhibits,
the prizes being $40 worth of bulbs. Mrs.
E. D. Crane of San Lorenzo was awarded
the highest ber of votes for beautl-
full display of colored roses Mrs. Pestdorf
carried off the second prize for fine show
of large, loose chrysanthemums. Pink
cosmos and the white-leaved sinerara.
shown by Mrs. Grothwell, also carried a
good many votes, as did dainty floral
table, covered with pink roses and sweet
peas, which Mrs. Smythe had on exhibit
ton.
Considerable amusement was caused by
the auction of the various displays. for the
benefit of the society. Captain kellner.
who acted auctioneer, conducted the
bidding with spirit and energy.
r;y ba N ar le m St
ficatiCn prevailed as to the exact meaning
OF letter which the secretary read from
Nj. II. de Young. 1T would give US pleas
ure," wrote the edirector-general of the Mid
winter Exposition, Ito have your society
lay off the grounds in suitable plats, each
representing individual displays and all
properly labeled, so that visitors can easily
distinguish who are the donors of the
plants and flowers"
This suggestion was pleasing TO the So
ciety, which is anxious to further the in-
teresls of the Mldwinter Fair, bur such
display would be elaborate and costly.
and, as the society is already burdeDed
with debt. the question was at once
asked, who is to bear the expense?"
The director-generaps latter was reread.
but it threw no light upon this important
matter, therefore a committee consisting
of President E. j. Wickson. Captain Kell-
ner and Mrs. Croft was appointed to con-
leT Will tne QlloCtUIo VI luo 4hiQ
Fair Exposition.
Timothy Hopkins was prevented from
being present personally, but President E.
j. Wickson read very interesting paper
by him upOn ''An English Flower Show"
After describing in general terms the love
of flower cultivation. which prevails
among every class of the English people,
although flowers are difficult to raise in
climate "made up of samples" Mr.. Hop
kins went on to give picturesque de-
scription of one particular fower-show
which he had attended on the lawns Of
Salisbury Palace.
The show was conducted upon almost
the lines observed here, many of the ex-
kIbits being excellent. Considerable mer-
riinent was aroused among members of the
society by the practical nature of the
awards mentioned. such as ton of coal
and a load of manure. In conclusion Mr..
Hopkins stated that in spite of the fact
that each member of the community takes
a deeper interest in flower cultivation
in England than in California, he could say
of their flower shows what the American
girl said when shown Vesuvlus, "Our
Niagara could put it out in minute"
A very instructive paper on towering
bulbs by F. A. Miller was followed by
discussion on the same subject. Next
month the society will consider Towering
shrubs.