The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09
CULTURE OF FLOWERS
INDIANA IN THE FRONT RANK OF
STATES OF THE UNION.
An International Association Built IL
by Bertermann Brothers, of
This City.

'No State stands higher than Indiana IN
the estimation of the American Florists
Association" said Edward Bertermann yes
terday afternoon, as he was building a de-
sign of white and pink roses, and he went
On TO tell OF the friendlness between nat
ural gas and Horticulture. In number OF
cities in the northern part of the State, he
said, there are large investments i'm the
culture and sale of flowers. Especially
in New Castle" he said. where there Is
now 100000 invested in the business, and
L heard the other day that a big Chicago
company has decided TO move to New
Castle Indiana has two advantages for
fioriculture-a rich soil and natural gas,
which is a cheap and the most easily dis
tributed fuel Besides, the Indiana cities
are in close connection with several of the
largest cities of the country. Great guam
titles of flowers are shipped from Indiana
to Chicago and st. Louis.
mo, the Indianapolis florists do not ship
loose flowers to other markets. However.
the florists of this city have a wide repu-
tation for their taste and sklIfulness, and
they get orders from other cities. The
other day we shipped a design TO Vir-
ginia.''
and more of the families that can afford
it are building summer homes in the coun-
try north of the city. where, during the
warm days and nights, they seek refuge
from the dusty sweltering city buildings
and the heat-preserving asphalt streets,
and he asked If this movement would no.
have invigorating effect on private
Horticulture.
UNLIKE THE EAST.
mot here" replied Mr. Bertermann; "the
people here are too glad TO get out into the
country to think about growing flowers.
OF course, the local florists sell a great
many ported plants, but there are no flower
enthusiasts here as there are in the East.
There is not a conservatory in this city.
while in the large cities of the East there
families that continually watch for new
varieties and developments of plants and
add them to their collections. We try to
interest the people here by arranging flow
ers in the show windows. putting together
the kinds that harmonic, building the
most beautiful displays We can. Then, the
annual shows do great deal of good. This
fall we will have the chrysanthemum show.
and in February the National Carnation
Society will meet here. That meeting will
be great thing. and the magnificent dis
play ought TO do a great deal of good
here
Talking further of the Importance of this
city and State in the world of flowers. Mr.
Rertermann described an organization of
florists that extends to all well-civilized
countries. The Bertermann firm originated
this enterprise five years ago, and has been
active in building ii up ever since though
florists in other cities of the United States
and other countries have joined enthusi-
asticaly. At first this scheme was called
the International Telegraph Association.
but now it is named the Florists Mutual
Delivery System.
HOW 1T WORKS.
The machine works this way: Each
member of the organization has list OF
the other correspondents. The list is re-
vised in Bertermann Bros Office from
time TO time, and the revised list is sent all
through this country and Europe II a So
informed person in any city desires TO send
flowers TO q friend on the occasion OF a
wedding a funeral. or what not. in another
city. he calls the local florist who is a
member Of the international organization
and puts the matter in his hands. The
florist telegraphs. or, if the Atlantic inter-
vene, cables TO the correspondent in the
other city and directs him TO deliver this
or that variety Of flowers Of certain de-
scribed design TO So-and-So.
The organization balances its machine at
the end of every month. The florist on
whom the customer calls deducts 20 per
cent from the correspondent bill 10 pay
him for his work. The telegraph and ex-
press charges are paid by the person CIV
ing the order. Says William G.. Berter-
mann. who is in charge of the organization:
1T is an agreement between these firms
10 create lively interest between distant
points and TO bring the of flowers into
still further demand" The scheme has
proved successful and the list Of members
IL continually growing.
So. II one wishes TO present flowers 20
frined in Paris. a cablegram from In
dianapolis to the great French city VIII
set a clerk OF either Monsieur Labrousse
or Monsieur Jules Paul TO filling the order
and directing the delivery 10 Monsieur or
Madamosielle This or That on the Rue -.
or. II IL be Vienna. Nine. Virg Fossati
will attend 10 the matter: If in Berlin, Herr
Schmidt, on Inter der Linden. viii see to
II. II IL an international board of trade for
flowers. and its headquarters is Indian
apolis.