New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-20
j. 5. Marine BAND
+. HERE IN OCTOBER
..
M Be Brought Here BY New
Britain Exchange Club

At 4 special meeting Of the board
Of control Of the Exchange club
held last evening following the reg
ular weekly meeting. voted to spon-
sor = concert by the U. s. Marine
band in this city on Sunday, Octo-
Der -, at the Strand theater.
The bid for the date was offered
by . representative Of the govern
ment, A. Louis Pabst, who explained
the arrangement necessary. After a
discussion. it was voted that the Of
fer be accepted. The proceeds will
60 towards charity. President
Charles Law stated.
Tuesday, August 2. Is the date set
for the annual Sunshine special
which will be promoted by the Ex-
change club. The event, which Is 4
national Exchange movement, pro-
vides for an outing and field day
for members Of the Children's
Home. Russell s. Gold. chairman
Of the general committee. is COM
pleting arrangements and reports
considerable progress.
Last years event included a par
ade through the city, games and
races at Lake Compounce, Southing-
ton, Z band concert and entertain
ment with the picnic lunch. 1t Is
thought that this years Sunshine
Special will be on the same lines as
last years event.
Exchangite Clement Mortensen Of
Cromwell, addressing the club, out
lined for the benefit Of the members
present, the story Of flower raising.
Stating that flower raising was
probably one Of the most unique
kinds Of busip esses, Mortensen out
lined the growth Of the large con-
Germ from the first efforts of A. M.
Pierson who graduated from gard
ener to owning his own small green
houses until the present day when
the company employees approximate
ly 500 persons and has an output OF
millions of roses a month.
During the war" the speaker
stated, THE government issued an
edict which turned all the green
houses into pig farms. Pigs died
easily under glass, the experiment
not turning out successfully. Then
came the influenza epidemic and the
government. seeing that the absence
of flowers in the homes of the be-
rsaved had noticeable affect on the
morale Of the country at large,
withdrew the edict and the green
houses were allowed to continue
operations. .
Il am often asked II the hail
storms have ever proved damaging
to our greenhouses. In our "a years
Of activities, the firm has never
been visited by hail storm. In
only one instance In this part of
the country have heard of hail
proving disastrous to florist. the
occasion being the wiping out Of a
million dollar concern in Providence
within the short space Of half an
hour"
Mr.. Mortensen quoted figures ex-
planning the activities of the Pierson
greenhouses. Approximately one
million square feet of glass is used
to shelter the flowers. A farm own
ed by the greenhouses contains
over 800 acres Of ground. maintain
ed principally for the supply Of old
sod which Is used in the greenhouses.
About one quarter Of the planting
area Of the greenhouses is changed
each year and five acres Of old sod
il needed to supply the plants be-
Ing raised.
THE wholesaler naturally real
lies . small profit on the blossoms
while the retailer has to obtain a
larger margin on his stock" he said.
II hope to see the day when flow
ers, through more popular purchas-
ing by the consumer, will be cheap
er and more abundant. 1t can only
be accomplished by the popular ac-
ceptance Of flower buying by the
average man In the street. I think
that you people who paid seventy
Ave cents for a carnation on Moth
er's Day got soaked-that was high
way robbery. But the natural need
for large profits fthe retail florist
will be lessened by the popular de-
mand Of flowers which would re-
act In a quick turnover"
The speaker was introduced by
Arthur Benson.