%xm\ €tmtinit$. 



The poor chrysalis, in liis lonely grave, * 



Seemed sinking hopeless in oblivion's wave. 

 But lo ! what magic bursts the dreary tomb ! 



What voice angelic bids the sleeper rise ! 

 He wakes arrayed in beauty's living bloom. 



His new-born plumage tinged with rainbow dyes ; 

 In air gay floating, wliile the sunbeam flings 

 A blaze of splendor o'er his glossy wings. 

 Thy emblem this ***** 



Samuel J. Smith. 



HE following communication from a valued cor- 

 respondent, leaves us little choice but to en- 

 deavor to comply with its requisition : — 



Office of the Cemetery of Spring Grove, 

 CixciNNATi, Marcli 4, 1856. 



Dear Sir : You will confer a favor on many 

 readers of the Horticulturist, by publishing in 

 that valuable magazine an article on the "Proper 

 Selection of Inclosures for Lots, and of Trees 

 and Shrubs for planting in Rural Cemeteries." 

 It gives me pleasure to state, that a taste for 

 these laudable improvements is rapidly increas- 

 ing throughout the West, and, to our Eastern 

 brethren, we look for such instruction in the adorn- 

 ment of cemetery grounds as their judgment, from 

 experience of many years' standing, may be able to 

 afford. Very respectfully, 



R. Buchanan, President. 

 To John Jay Smith, Esq., 



President Laurel Hill Cemeterij, Philadelphia. 



W In the first place, it will be proper to remark, that in 

 *>w/ ' the history of a permanent cemetery, a century is but a short 

 ^'^ period ; hence, preparations for its embellishment by the 

 7 _" managers as well as the individual owners of lots, should be 

 "^^ made on different principles from those usually employed about 

 a house or a garden ; and this leads to the further remark, founded upon the 

 transitory nature of man's existence, by which it happens that often in less than 

 twenty years, there is no interested party, unless it be the Cemetery Company 

 itself (which cannot, in all cases, be calculated on), left to care for, keep in order, 

 and cultivate the sacred spot where we have placed our most cherished friends, and 

 where we ex])ect to be deposited ourselves. What folly it is, then, to inclose a 

 lot with poor iron railing, that we know, beforehand, will rust and decay in a very 

 few years, and even sooner if it is not regularly painted ; indeed, iron may be 

 said to rot, when exposed to all the atmospheric influences, just as paper decays ; 

 the process is only less rapid. 



In looking about us, then, and taking into view the lapse of time, it might be 

 supposed we should employ at least as much care for our slightly more extended 

 prospects of earthly immortality, as the chrysalis does when it wraps its mantle 

 around it, and protects itself with such wonderful care, to guard against a single 

 winter's cold. 



As a general rule, all this is neglected, especially by those who inclose lot 

 many of whom it cannot have failed to be a cherished hope that they ' 



Vol. VI.— August, 1856. 



23 



