249 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
that the trees existing inside the iron 
fence are dwarfed and ill shaped being 
overshadowed by the trees in the 
street. 
Besides the trees, there exist about 
the square, several large poles which 
are a detriment to its appearance and 
which are to be removed when the 
wires are placed under ground. 
Originally, the design of the walks 
about the monument was in the form 
of a rectangle conforming to the shape 
of the monument base, but as time has 
elapsed with the continuous travel, the 
gravel area has been enlarged and the 
rectangular shape has been destroyed. 
For this cause and the added reason 
that the monument would appear to bet- 
ter advantage if more turf were about 
the base than at present, the shape 
' has been slightly changed. The narrow 
walk that surrounds the interior of the 
IOWA PARK AND 
The Iowa Park and Forestry Asso- 
ciation held its annual meetings in Des 
Moines during the second week of De- 
cember. The advancement of the so- 
ciety was well shown by the increased 
attendance and the greater general en- 
thusiasm manifested by the members. 
The large attendance of the old pio- 
neers was especially significant in the 
progress of the movement. 
There are over 200,000 rural homes 
in Iowa. These homes were formerly 
homesteaded, or bought for a low 
figure by the early settlers. 
The greatest drawback towards the 
improvement of farm homes is the fact 
that over one-third are occupied by 
tenant farmers. Old home makers are 
gradually moving into the towns and 
are renting their farms. The new oc- 
cupants of the land expect to remain 
on the place but a few years and no 
attention is given to the planting of 
trees or s'hrubs. 
The rural school grounds of Iowa are 
often situated in the corner of a grain 
field or cow pasture without the slight- 
est home-like suggestion about them. 
In winter no wind-break of evergreens 
checks the whirl of the cold winds 
about the school house. In summer the 
cooling shade of the elm trees is ab- 
sent from the school grounds. The 
awakening of the educational authori- 
ties to the necessity for improvement 
along these lines is essential to secure 
the highest excellence in the public 
schools. 
George E. MacLean president of the 
Iowa University, pointed out the ne- 
cessity for civic improvement. He said 
that many of the Iowa villages have 
square is also changed and recesses 
made for location of seats, free from the 
line of travel. 
Between this boundary walk and the 
iron fence, a plantation of mountain 
laurel is proposed, with herbaceous per- 
ennials along the inner edge. Instead 
of using hot house plants in beds en- 
closed with wire guards, the lawn is to 
be kept free and open, and a simple 
dignified treatment given to the whole 
space. If flowers are desired, an appro- 
priate bed can be made immediately in 
front of the monument. 
The iron fence at present is painted 
black, giving a sombre appearance. 
The landscape architect recommends 
that they be painted a bronze color. 
The opening of the East Denver 
Park District, Denver, Col., will include 
plans for the extension of the espla- 
nade entrance to City park, and the 
narrow and crooked streets. The 
bare unadorned situations are scarcely 
better than hay markets. If such places 
were improved with tree and shrubbery 
plantings it would help to keep the 
sons and daughters at home. A feeling 
of contentment and a love for the beau- 
tiful would be instilled into them by 
their surroundings, rather than a con- 
tempt for the bare streets and a long- 
ing for a change. Village improve- 
ment should combine the useful with 
the beautiful. Schools and churches 
should join in the great movement. He 
stated that a society should be organ- 
ized in every town in the state. Each 
member should be required to pay a 
fee of $1.00 and to plant and care for 
one tree each year. The village is best 
managed when divided into districts. 
Children can be interested in such a 
movement by giving occasional talks 
on landscape gardening before the pub- 
lic schools. The planting of trees, 
shrubs, and flowering plants can be en- 
couraged. Urge the citizens to culti- 
vate a sense of appreciation for the 
beautiful. 
The city and park improvements of 
Madison, Wis., were cited by C. H. 
^Gregory as an example of what can be 
done by a society which is properly or- 
ganized. Thirty-eight thousand three 
hundred and thirty-five trees were set 
out inside of four years. These trees 
and shrubs were secured largely from 
the neighboring woods at no cost what- 
ever except for the labor involved. The 
trees were secured in the fall and heeled 
in until the following spring. Before 
the improvements the lots adjoining the 
park sold for $300 ; after the work was 
park board has under serious consider- 
ation the extension of the esplanade 
south and west so that it will form a 
connecting link between City and 
Cheesman parks. The accompanying 
map shows the route of the proposed 
boulevard. 
A shows the present esplanade en- 
trance to City park at Seventeenth ave- 
nue. B indicates the Colfax entrance 
to the esplanade and the point where 
the- extension will begin with a sweep 
to the right, taking in half the block 
with Josephine and Columbine to Four- 
teenth avenue. It then leads on Four- 
teenth avenue to C, where the block 
between High and Williams will be 
parked, carrying the parkway into 
Cheesman park. D shows where the 
boulevard will leave Cheesman park, 
connecting with the Country club and 
Washington park to the south. 
completed the same lot's sold for $1,200 
each. 
The progress of the Women’s Im- 
provement League of Iowa City was re- 
ported by Mrs. J. B. Kessler. The 
work of this society was begun in Oak- 
land Cemetery. Two hundred lot own- 
ers were interested in the m®vement, 
and each assessed $2.00. Lots were 
trimmed, headstones were straightened. 
Iron boxes were stationed at conve- 
nient places to receive waste paper, 
wilted flowers, and other refuse mate- 
rial. Water was piped into the grounds 
and a drinking fountain set up. Soon 
the v/ork was extended to the improve- 
ment of streets. The worst street in 
the city was transformed into a boule- 
vard. Private persons became inter- 
ested and lots were improved to keep 
pace with the general prosperity of the 
town. 
K. A. Kirkpatrick gave some gen- 
eral advice on the planting of shrub- 
bery on the home grounds. The first 
essential in developing a location is to 
have some definite plan clearly in view. 
The nursery fashion of planting is to 
be guarded against. Avoid the museum 
style of planting where a row of trees 
is placed on either side of the walk, 
and the individual trees are surrounded 
with white-washed bricks or bi.ts of 
broken crockery. The species used 
ought to be cleanly and not shed their 
leaves or seed pods to litter up the 
lawn. Do not ape city manners in 
rural improvements. Natural simplicity 
is the fundamental principle in decorat- 
ing the rural grounds. 
“The Destruction of Our Forests” 
was the subject discussed by J. C. Fer- 
FORESTRY ASSOCIATION MEETING 
