KUEAL CEMETERIES, 



— improved and embellislied — and the surveyor is called in to do it. He, with an 

 eye merely to certain conveniences in getting from one point to another, carves it up 

 into patches as though he were mapping out the site of a new city ; and the ground is 

 ruined. Two cemeteries in Western New York that might have been gems of taste 

 and beauty, laid out in the most picturesque spots that could be desired, were hope- 

 lessly disfigurad by this sort of management. There is not only no economy in this, 

 but an actual waste of means. Let a competent person be at once employed who will 

 carefully study the features of the ground and draw up a complete general plan, upon 

 which, and conformable to which, all future improvements shall be made ; and let 

 this plan be rigidly adhered to, and tastefully and skilfully carried out, from year to 

 year, as the improvements progress. 



In regard to the management of the ground surface in cemeteries, we have always 

 regarded the prevailing system of cutting it up into small lots, and indicating the 

 outline by some conspicuous boundary or enclosure, as quite inconsistent with good 

 taste. If we could raise ourselves to a sufficient height to take a birds-eye view of such 

 a surface it would present a piece of motley patch-work thrown together apparently 

 without design, and in violation of every rule of taste and harmony. In some of the 

 European cemeteries, laid out upon a geometrical plan, and embellished lavishlv with 

 sculptural ornaments, these straight lines are not at all offensive, because in keepino- 

 with the general plan ; but nearly all our rural cemeteries are laid out in what is desig- 

 nated the modern, natural, or landscape style. In these rural or landscape cemeteries 

 we would discard all prominent rectangular enclosures, if possible. The system of 

 allowing one man to enclose his lot with a white wooden railing or a regular picket 

 fence, another with a ponderous iron railing, another with granite posts and iron chains, 

 — some with box edging, others with privet, or thorn, or cedar, or rows of trees dotted 

 around, makes a sad jumble, in our estimation. Then see what all these things cost. 

 In a cemetery we might name, and in all our cemeteries, we dare say, thousands of 

 dollars have been expended in these so-called improvements. How common it is to see 

 four or six trees, Balsam Firs or Spruce, and perhaps a Weeping Willow, and, it may 

 be, two or three other trees, planted on a small lot some twenty feet square, where a 

 single appropriate tree would have been infinitely more pleasing. Where every lot 

 owner is thus allowed to plant how and what he pleases, to exercise his own individual 

 taste or rather whim, regardless of the general effect, it is quite impossible, whatever 

 the original design may have been, to produce any pleasing results. Why not proceed 

 upon the plan that all embellishments, in the way of trees, shrubs, and plants, shall 

 be made by the superintendent of the grounds, who we will presume to be a compe- 

 tent man, working upon a well understood and approved general design ? Will people 

 not be willing to sacrifice their individual tastes and vanities for the general good, in 

 the same way as the citizens of a town entrust the embellishment and care of public 

 parks or grounds to a competent person, rather submitting to be taxed for its support 

 than that each should perform a certain portion of tlie work themselves ? Every 

 lot might be indicated by inconspicuous objects placed at the corners ; the 

 might be all an unbroken lawn, and the trees planted in such a manner 



