STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 97 



"Wherever it is necessary, and at the same time feasible, to carry 

 off the water, it will be found best to lay a drain pipe in the avenue 

 along its border — a foot deep is enough — with a catch basin at that 

 part where the most water concentrates ; so carrying it to the most 

 accessible point of discharge. This is preferable to paved gutters, 

 especially where good stones cannot be obtained for the work. A 

 nicely paved gutter of selected beach stones, of uniform size, makes 

 a handsome finish sometimes ; but they cannot be obtained every- 

 where. 



As all cemeteries have more or less of paved gutters, it may not 

 be amiss to speak here of their care. It may be thought that these 

 are very expensive to keep clean, but it is not so ; it is very seldom 

 that they have to be weeded by hand. When the grounds have 

 their spring raking up or cleaning, the gutters should be thoroughly 

 swept with a stiff broom. This is generally in the latter part of 

 April ; after that, I always keep three barrels of brine on hand, and 

 — weeds or no weeds — these gutters are watered with it once in two 

 weeks ; and with an occasional sweeping they are always clean. 

 Use it always on a bright sunny day. This is an easy and very 

 satisfactory way of caring for the gutters ; an experience of several 

 years supports my statement. I think this is an important point to 

 attend to in the care of our cemeteries ; for, no matter how thoroughly 

 you may do all the rest, if you neglect this it will detract more 

 from the appearance of the grounds than can be made up by any 

 efforts whatever towards other embellishment. 



The edges of the avenues and paths should never be so high as 

 to attract notice ; keep them low, but properly defined ; use the 

 scuffle hoe and fine rake freely when the weeds are scarcely per- 

 ceptible, and you will be surprised to see what a distance two men 

 can go over in a day. 



You will expect to hear something about the lots ; and I remark, 

 first of all, that without good grass you may plant whatever else 

 you please, and yet never have a good looking lot. Let all the 

 ground be well prepared ; do not be disturbed if the compost heap 

 is reduced. Before sowing, give the seed something to feed on. I 

 cannot recommend attention to this work too strongly. I know by 

 sad experience the great drawbacks from the want of thorough 

 preparation. Proprietors whose lots were graded years ago, and 

 who have them cared for by the year, are surprised that theirs do 

 not look as well as many others ; the fact being that, at the time 

 7 



