Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-30
CARE OF CEMETERIES.
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES
OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT


OF THEIR EMBEULlSHMENT.
Extracts frem Paper Read by John q.
Barker. Before the Massachusetts Horti-
cultural society Good Grass. Flower
Beds, Trees, Etc. Various Hints.
The place to commence the care Of q
cemetery l. al the gate, II Is important
that the first Impression should br neat
and attractive But the care of the Gene
terry should not stop here to the neglect Of
the rest of the grounds Whenever a rare
tree or shrub or group can he planted let
it be done. do not let the marble and
granite monopolile the ground.
A most important feature in the EN-
bellishment is the avenues and paths.
Those AT the entrance should be Of width
proportiunate to the surroundings. For
the other principal avenues eighteen feet
i IA good standard width and g., feet for
the paths is sufficient These should be
rUuD'led over enough to throw the water
into the cutters Nothing adds more t0 a
place than well kept avenues and paths.
When il Is necessary To care for the water
it will be found far better to lay drain
pipe on the side of the avenue, Il foot deep
Is enough. with basins at the points
where the most water concentrates. carry
ing il to the most convenient place. Where
selected beach stones Of nearly uniform
size can be obtained gutter makes a nice
finish to avenues
The edges OF the paths and avenues
should never be so high as to be very dis
tinctive. They should be- kept low but
well defined, Use the scufile hoe and fine
rake freely when the weeds are scarcely
perceptible. Paved cutters are not eXpen-
sive to keep clean. When the grounds have
the spring raking and cleaning the cutters
should be thoroughly swept with u stuf
broom
GOOD GRASS An ESSENTIAL FACTOR.
Good grass is one of the most essential
factors Without it, plant whatever you
please, you will never have good-loOklnS
lot. Let all the ground be well prepared
TOp-dressing is good but food at the roots
is better. dry spell will soon convince
the observer of this fact The use Of stone
and marble for fences ard Curbings
is giving way to the landscape lawn
plan. Many of the unsightly hedges and
fences i'll old cemeteries are each year Civ
ing place to smooth slopes, rare trees and
shrubs.
The essayist did not advise flower beds
on lots, though many desire them. but II
vase of proper size. well filled and placed
in the center of the lot, especially where
there is no monument, is very desirable
Neatness and simplicity. especially in lots
Of moderate size should never be forgot
ten. Anything like rivalry i entirely out
of place 4 handsome monument on a
large lot. with simple markers Ia designate
each grave, looks much better than a
quantity Of headstunes of varying designs.
For large lot of go or more square
feet a good way Is to form circle from
the center which will leave the corners to
be planted. a tree may he placed in the
center until the monument is ready.
To obviate the complaint that because
one can not afford to buy large lot he is
driven into a back corner or low place,
the essayist advises the laying out Of
parallel ranges Of larger and smaller lots,
and places for single graves with room Tor
trees between the ranges, while the larger
and smaller lots under this arrangement
are separated from each other, the uni
formity Of the ground is retained and the
rich and poor are laid together.
signed for flowers and shrubs, the essayist
recommended the use So far as posslbl Of
shrubs and herbaceOus plants. They
should never be planted very thlCkly, but
each should have room TO develop itself.
Before any planting is done the beds
should be prepared in the best possible
way Shrubs should be massed
SOME HINTS WELL WORTH NEEDING.
In many cemeteries, especially those
owned 10y cities or towns, a large space Is
occupied by what is known rs the city or
town lot, and is filled 10y those whose
friends are compelled by necessity to lay
thsSr loved ones there; but these friends
are as sensitive and feel as much grief for
their kindred as those who have means 10
do as they wish. We want no one To feel
the dollar division in the cemetery, but
these public lots are apt to present an un-
seamly appearance, and TO avoid this the
essayist recommended that wooden struC-
lures should not be allowed on the graves,
and that the size of headstOnes should be
limited, which, with few other simple
rules would produce the desired effect.
The essayist concluded his paper with an
extract from the writings of the late DIR.
John A Narder in regard to the fOrma-
ton of cemeteries:
There should be perfect security and
permauence in the title and against in
strusOn Insuring peaceful quiet and per
feet repOse TO all who may be brought
within the sacred limits.
The landscape should embrace diver
sified surface of land and water. The area
should be covered with green turf in broad
stretches Shaded by outrageous trees,