CEMETERIES AND PARKS. Ill 



When it is necessary to use these grassy paths in wet weather, it 

 is the practice of some to cover them, and, if needful, a part of a 

 lot also, with straw matting, upon which the people can walk, or 

 stand with less discomfort. There should be as much lawn as 

 possible. He would have flowers also, but would do away with 

 geometrical flower beds except near the entrance gateways, and 

 connected buildings, where they blend more harmoniously with 

 the surroundings. Mr. Ross confessed that his taste for ever- 

 greens was growing. He would have ornamental grounds filled 

 with a variety of dwarf evergreens, including dark green, bright 

 green, and golden, planted with artistic taste and skill. He had 

 taken out deciduous shrubs standing in improper places, and 

 substituted evergreens. He declared himself a much less stronsr 

 advocate of deciduous shrubs, in lawn or park, than formerly. 

 The varieties of evergreens we now have are available to form 

 winter gardens. A mass of assorted evergreens, artistically 

 arranged, makes a pleasing contrast with the general sombreness 

 of early winter scenerj^, and forms one of the kinds of ornamenta- 

 tion which we need. He would not recommend great rows of tall 

 evergreens. Speaking of ornamental water, he quoted the remark 

 made by a playmate of his in boyhood days : "I like that pond, 

 it does not look like a washbowl," as showing the necessity of 

 giving to artificially formed bodies of water that diversity of 

 outline which is so charming a feature of natural lakes. Another 

 point, upon which Mr. Ross laid some emphasis, was, that no lots 

 should be sold until they have been graded. 



William J. Hargraves, objected to having sand next above the 

 broken stones in the road-bed of cemetery avenues. Instead of 

 that he would use material of a binding nature. 



Mr. Ross replied that sand in Newton will always let water 

 through, and keep everything in place. 



Mr. Barker said that Forest Hills Cemetery is not one of the 

 landscape-lawn class, because it was not started as such. It is a 

 garden cemetery. His purpose in the paper read was to describe 

 what he saw in the several places he visited. But he did not 

 mean to be understood as commending all that he described, and 

 wished for kindly criticism from all his hearers. 



O. B. Hadwen thought there might be considerable dust in Mr. 

 Ross's avenues. That could be prevented by having them 

 concreted. A cemetery should be quiet, and free from the noise 



