PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
Vol. XVIII Chicago, May, 1908 No. 3 
Spraying 
Spraying has become a very necessary accessory oper- 
ation in modern horticulture. In point of fact it is an 
absolute necessity in fruit growing, and is rapidly assum- 
ing an important place in the care of all descriptions of 
plant life whether used for decorative or economic pur- 
poses. The application of Bordeaux mixture, a combina- 
tion of sulphate of copper and common lime, by means 
of the force pump and spray nozzle, to trees and plants 
in the spring just before the buds open, is a good, prac- 
tical insurance against the inroads of fungus growths 
and diseases, and with the addition of arsenic after the 
buds have opened, it is effective in destroying all the 
chewing insects and worms. Of course, knowledge of 
proportions of chemicals and judgment in their applica- 
tion are necessary. Bordeaux mixture, is an excellent 
tonic for tree life; it preserves the appearance of the foli- 
age by checking the attacks of disease, and applied sys- 
tematically and with care maintains both the health and 
appearance of trees and shrubs under all ordinary cir- 
cumstances. Ihe majority of our larger parks are 
equipped with spraying apparatus and a leading feature 
of spring work is the spraying operation. Spraying appa- 
ratus is now manufactured of all kinds and styles, from 
the little hand pump and tank combination to the power- 
driven pump and tank mounted on trucks, and the results 
of their use have been most satisfactory. 
Art in the Parks ^ ^ 
The Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, 
have been in trouble over the ' question of art versus 
patriotism in connection with a soldier's monument, pro- 
posed to be erected in Fairmount Park, by one of the 
posts of the Grand Army of the Republic. Flow difficult 
it is, after all, to teach what true patriotism means. Uned- 
ucated taste, combined with obstinate persistence and 
wrong methods, waves a Hag and claims patriotism as an 
inspiration to compel the erection of a public monument 
of poor quality, on a site which should command the 
highest that art can furnish. It is time that the authori- 
ties in charge of our beauty spots should brave the clamor 
of so-called patriotism and insist upon it that every sol- 
dier’s monument, henceforth to be erected, shall be an 
ornament to the site, an object of art and a production 
that will appeal to future generations. As the "Public 
Ledger” tersely puts it: "This is one case where art 
and good taste ought to be made paramount to patriot- 
ism,” and we would add that insisting upon a suitable 
memorial is good patriotism on the part of the com- 
missioners. vg 
The Conservation of Natural Resources 
The conference to be held at the White House, Wash- 
ington, at about the time of our going to press, is one 
of the most important meetings ever held in the coun- 
try, and great preparations have been under way to make 
it of enduring benefit to the American people. The con- 
servation of our natural resources which will properly in- 
clude a well devised waterways system, as well as re- 
forestation and other economic matters, is a question of 
enomous importance to the nation, and if the result of 
the conference be to pave the way for a vigorous and 
united action towards solving the vast problems presented 
the country need not fear a falling off in our progressive 
prosperity. We are in our infancy of possible develop- 
ment, with resources vast and varied, and the necessity 
of unity in our efforts being apparent, it is to be earn- 
estly hoped that the White House conference will be the 
means of establishing that idea in an active and compre- 
hensive control. The American Civic Association has 
been invited by the President to co-operate in "bringing 
this matter before the people." 
Vg Ng 
Growth of the Playground Movement 
If the growth of the playground idea is any criterion of 
conditions, verily may it be said that the children’s day is 
coming at last, for a recognition of their rights and the du- 
ties of the community in regard to its future citizens is now 
better appreciated and understood. The Playground Asso- 
ciation of America, which was founded but a comparatively 
short time ago for the express purpose of encouraging ever\ 
municipality in the country to provide adequate play facili- 
ties for its children, is rapidly extending its influence. It 
has now nearly a thousand members in more than a hun- 
dred cities, and has opened headcjuarters at 624 Madison ave- 
nue, New York, whence it sends information broadcast, and 
where it gathers and formulates methods and plans for the 
adv-ancement of its cause. Among its working propositions 
for the present year, are: missionary work to secure inter- 
est in every American city and to co-operate therewith ; to 
determine upon model . standard playground equipments for 
different conditions; the esttdilishment of playgrounds in con- 
nection with institutions for children ; to provide model 
courses in playground administration in the several classes 
of schools; to recommend state playground legislation: and 
the promotion of athletic games, etc., in connection with pub- 
lic schools. Surely this is a strenuous program of endeavor, 
w'orthy of all possible support and an early fruition. 
State Parks and Sanitariums 
The proposition of the State Park Commission of Wis- 
consin to throw open state park lands to summer campers 
is a progressive step in state park management. Wiscon- 
sin has a particularly fine and bracing climate with pic- 
turesqueness of land and waterscape, and is sj)ecially in- 
viting for outdoor life the greater part of the year. It is 
in view' of the results of the new' method of tuberculosis 
treatment that the commission proposes to open the state 
lands to campers, and while it is not intended officially 
to make sanitariums of the state parks, they wfill be open 
free to all wdio desire to use them for camping i)urposes. 
This is a wise business as well as humanitarian move, 
and should make 'Wisconsin a mecca for the invalid and 
summer tourist, and is likewfise a suggestion to other 
stkte commissions in control of available park lands. 
Billboard Regulation 
There has been introduced in the Rhode Island legis- 
lature an act granting pow'cr to cities and towns to regti- 
late outdoor advertising, to levy and collect license taxes, 
and to fix and collect penalties for violating its regulations. 
The act requires reasonableness in regulation on the part 
of city and town authorities, and provides for the collec- 
tion of license fees, and the pow'er to collect with ajjpro- 
priate penalties for delay in payments. A penalty of one 
hundred dollars may be imposed for each billVxiard 
erected without authority and immediate removal is 
authorized. The act in full a])pears in .another column. 
