leave less than i8 inches standing, as it is as stiff as bamboo, and 
unless taU enough to avoid, will give you many an ugly scratch. 
It is one of the Frenchmen who says, "While there are soils 
especially adapted to the culture of asparagus, there are none in which 
it will not grow, and it cannot be denied that the finest asparagus grows 
near the largest cities." Therefore it is only a question of intelHgent 
cultivation. 
National Conference on Parks 
O. Van Wyck, Jr. 
National organization of disinterested persons determined to 
arouse the country to the need of creating more parks and preserving 
those already in existence was effected in Des Moines, January lo, 
II, 12, 1921, at the first National Conference on Parks. 
For the first time since park creation became a pubhc question, a 
comprehensive national program was outHned, in effect a "con- 
servation bin of rights," which will guide future efforts to preserve 
the fast-disappearing wild life and beauty spots of the country. 
Facts, rather than phrases, dominated the proceedings and there- 
in lay the reason for the impetus given the conservation movement. 
And just to keep the record straight, it should be set forth here that 
much of the success of the conference, forerunner of annual meetings 
which should accomplish great things, belongs to members of the 
Garden Club of America, No. i . The tireless work of Mrs. Francis C. 
Farwell, of Chicago, in the trying days of organization, was largely 
responsible for making reaUty out of what had been only an idea, 
and her original proposal for a National Conservation Day, already 
endorsed by the Garden Club of America, No. i, and the National 
Park Service, was adopted enthusiastically by the Conference. 
Mrs. Charles L. Hutchinson, of Chicago, is another active worker 
in the Garden Club of America, No. i, to whom the Conference is in- 
debted, both for her aid in the preliminary organization and her 
effective presentation of a resolution for National Conservation Day. 
The counsel of Mrs. Hutchinson and the other Garden Club mem- 
bers present assisted materially in shaping the results of the meeting. 
The type of the delegate, rather than his numbers, determined 
the character of the Conference. Twenty-five states were represented, 
from coast to coast. 
There were many interesting entertainment features. A nature- 
study program such as occurs daily in Yosemite National Park; a 
reproduction of "Bird Conversation," and five illustrated addresses 
were given. 
The proceedings of the Conference assembled the most complete 
and authoritative information on park conditions in the country 
22 
