Page:The Tales of a Traveller.djvu/44

32 to cover liberal space in six newspapers, with enough left for the nucleus of a similar undertaking on another occasion.

Marked Development in Southern Florists' Establishments

Nowhere has the change among the florists been more marked in these last twenty-five years than in the Southern section of the country. Twenty-five years ago it would have been hard to find extensive greenhouses or well-equipped flower stores in any part south of the Mason and Dixon line. In a measure perhaps, it was due to the fact that a quarter of a century ago the South had not as yet fully recovered from the disastrous effects of the Civil War, and was still in the midst of its reconstructive period. At any rate, my several trips through Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana never proved remunerative enough to induce me to continue in that direction. I do not mean to imply that the Southern people were devoid of aesthetic taste and made no response to the appeal of flowers. It was the general business conditions rather than a lack of refinement and cultivation of taste that were responsible for the lack of enterprise in the floral direction.

How things have changed since! When I resumed my journeys about fifteen years later, to that interesting part of the country where the sun shines almost all of the time, where birds sing and plants luxuriate in the pleasant warmth, my surprise was great. The downtown districts in almost every city that I had known of old seemed to have become transformed as by the wand of a magician. The old-fashioned Southern structures had given way to modern business establishments. The hustle and bustle on the streets reminded me of the Northern cities. The hotels had become modernized, and even the food seemed to taste better than that of the former hotels. Apace with the general progress was that of the florists. My surprise may be better imagined than described when I beheld the mammoth greenhouse establishment of the Joy Floral Co. at Nashville, Tenn., and their excellent store on Church st., right in the heart of the business district. The Joys, three generations of them, represent a remarkable family. Mr. Joy the grandfather, a venerable old gentleman in the late seventies, is still alert and active, though long since retired from business. Thomas Joy the son, the genius of the present flourishing business, is a man of keen business perceptions, one who not only recognizes a good thing when he sees it, but is quick to see the advantage of making it his own. Under his able management his business has prospered beyond his own expectations. Mr. Joy believes in growing the best stock that could possibly be grown, and with that end in view he never deems it wise to economize in any manner that would have a deterring effect upon his products. The best Carnations and Roses introduced always find room in his greenhouses. Unlike the ultra-conservative grower, who is always inclined to have some other fellow pay for the experience—a "try it on the dog" attitude—Mr. Joy is ready to take the risk and make the experiment himself. If he happens to hit upon a good thing, he is that much ahead of the other fellow. If he misses, he takes the result as a matter of course, and tries again. Men of such calibre truly represent the progressive elements in our ranks. Thomas Joy, the grandson, has the store in his care, and has proven himself an able administrator.

More About the South The Geny Brothers have likewise modernized and enlarged their facilities of former years. Their new range of houses, in West Nashville, is not only large in scope but in production as well. They grow with success Carnations, Roses, ferns and bulb stock of all sorts; and their retail store in town bears every stamp of able management and progressive spirit.