THE CARE AND EMBELLISHMENT OF CEMETERIES. 177 



alwaj's clean. Use it alwaj's on a bright sunny day. This is an 

 eas}' and very satisfactory waj- of caring for the gutters ; an ex- 

 perience 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 em- 

 bellishment. 



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 j-ou will be surprised to see what a distance two men 

 can go over in a da}'. 



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 strongl}'. 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 man}' others ; the fact being that, at the time 

 those lots were graded, the work was usually let out by the indi- 

 vidual purchaser to the man who would do it cheapest ; while now 

 every lot, in an}' well conducted cemetery, is thoroughly prepared 

 before it is sold. 



I have in my mind an owner of a large well laid out lot, who is 

 willing to pay any reasonable bill for the care of it. On that lot 

 there is not over four inches of good soil. He is willing to top- 

 dress it — but I have not persuasive power enough to get his con- 

 sent to make thorough work, by taking out the gravel and 

 replacing with good loam and manure, and then seeding down 

 anew. Top dressing is good, but food for the deep roots is better ; 

 a dry spell will soon convince a close observer of this fact. By all 

 means let us have good grassing. 



As long as time lasts, I suppose marble and granite will be used 



for decorative, as well as for memorial purposes. We scarcely 



ever think how little the original intention of the projectors of 



Mount Auburn was conformed to, during the many years when 



12 



