PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
Vol. XVIII Chicago, January, 1909 No. 11 
State Parks in California 
If newspaper reports are correct, very serious reforms are 
yet in order in that graft-ridden state, not the least by any 
means being in the control of the State parks. The care of 
“The Redwood Park” has been classed a scandal, and the 
legislature is to be asked to frame some legislation to provide 
for its proper administration and maintenance. By all ac- 
counts the present board of management is incapable of tak- 
ing proper care of the tract, probably from the fact that they 
are incompetent for such a duty, and a small commission of 
responsible citizens is suggested, whose business and educa- 
tional qualifications shall fit them for the task and inspire pub- 
lic confidence in their efforts. 
Regrets 
All acquainted with the splendid services rendered to the 
American Civic Association by its secretary, Mr. Clinton Rog- 
ers Woodruff, will feel a sincere regret that he has been com- 
pelled to resign the office, due to the demands of his other 
interests. It is some compensation, however, to note that he 
will still continue to participate in the work of the association 
through his position of first vice-president, to which he was 
again elected at the recent Pittsburg convention. In his letter 
of resignation Mr. Woodruff expresses his belief in the possi- 
bilities of the organization for the future as being greater 
than at any previous time, and to this very satisfactory out- 
look Mr. Woodruff has eminently contributed, exemplifying 
what a public spirited citizen of high qualifications can ac- 
complish in congenial association. 
. Ng Ng 
Growing the Eucalyptus for Profit 
A number of Sacramento, Cal., business men have formed a 
company with a capital of $75,000 to establish a forest of 
Eucalyptus trees near Marysville, as a commercial enterprise. 
There are some seventy or more varieties of this Australian 
tree, many of them of valuable qualities and to which the 
climate of California appears to be well adapted, from exper- 
ience up to date. It is easily propagated and cared for, and 
the growth of certain of the best varieties is very rapid, at- 
taining maturity, it is claimed, in five years, and the profits 
from its cultivation are expected to be large. Planting groves 
of Eucalyptus is becoming a fad in California and a cir- 
cular is about to be issued by the State Forestry Bureau in 
which it will be shown that Southern California rivals any 
section of the world, outside Australia, for the cultivation 
of this tree both for fuel purposes and to take the place of 
the fast disappearing hard woods of the east. It is ideal and 
profitable farming for absentee owners. 
The Use of Coal Tar on Railways 
Some months ago a reaction was reported from Paris 
against the use of tar on public roads as a dust preventive ; 
but according to more enlightened investigation this reaction 
was found to be almost entirely a myth, for in the 
opinion of the eminent authorities the use of coal tar on 
traffic roads not only prevents dust, but ensures better wear- 
ing qualities and longer life to the road itself. Our English 
contemporary “The Surveyor, etc.”, discusses the subject at 
large and disputes upon clear evidence the disparaging re- 
ports. English experience is certainly worth noting: Two 
years ago there were 30 miles of tarred roads in that coun- 
try, last year there were 200 miles and today there are over 
1,500 miles, and some long stretches have been completed 
showing faith in the material. Fresh gas-works tar is totally 
unfit for roadwork, as it contains so much soluble and other 
deleterious matter ; but as now treated all damaging elements 
are removed. Experiments have shown that satisfactory re- 
sults are obtained from the use of one gallon of tar to four 
superficial yards of roadway at a cost of some $200 per 
mile. This dressing has been found to add materially to the 
wearing qualities of the road and under good conditions it 
more than repays first cost in the saving in maintenance. 
Improve the Country Cemetery 
It might be profitable to apply the old adage “example is 
better than precept” to the question of influencing rural com- 
munities in the matter of outdoor improvement, by prosecut- 
ing a campaign to beautify the country cemetery. Numbers 
of ordinarily intelligent country people realize what a delight- 
ful thing it would be, if their homes and villages could be 
made more attractive by properly arranged plantings of trees 
and shrubs, but of the plants to be used, and methods of 
using them, a dense ignorance prevails, and so outdoor im- 
provement languishes and will continue to do so unless per- 
haps some attractive examples are made to flourish in their 
midst. It is possible that the country cemetery might be im- 
proved into a veritable inspiration for the community, if 
some public spirited citizens could be induced to associate for 
the purpose of securing competent help in the work of re- 
planning and planting the grounds. The cost would be com- 
paratively small, but the results would more than justify the 
outlay and responsibility in bringing them about. Instead of 
being a deserted spot at most times, except when bereavement 
necessitates or prompts a visit, the country cemetery might 
be easily made to present such beautiful planting schemes, 
although in miniature perhaps, that the people would be 
drawn to study the effect and their minds attuned to the 
actual desirability of producing like effects about their homes 
and wherever improvement work was demanded. 
N? ^ 
Farmers’ Institutes 
Now that the education of the farmer is attracting the at- 
tention of those interested in the higher development of the 
American citizen, the so-called Farmers’ Institutes claim con- 
sideration, and the thirteenth annual meeting of the Amer- 
ican Association of Farmers’ Institute Workers, which was 
held in Washington, D. C., in November last emphasizes this 
demand. Farmer’s institutes may be briefly described as local 
meetings held during the off season at central points in the 
agricultural districts, conducted and promoted by public 
spirited farmers in co-operation, usually with the State Agri- 
cultural colleges. Speakers of known ability and experience 
in agriculture, horticulture, farm work, etc., are engaged as 
leaders both in the main topics and discussions. An immense 
amount of knowledge and practical experience is thus dis- 
seminated and in late years more attention has been paid to 
the social features of farm life. In a communication from 
Mr. John Hamilton, the government’s institute specialist, he 
says: “There is needed just now a well defined boundary, 
fixing the limits of the farmers’ institutes and their relations 
to the general system of agricultural education in the United 
States.” When the recommendations of the commission in 
farm life are known, we should hope to sec the Fanners’ In- 
stitute workers fall into line and include some educational 
effort to broaden out the farmer’s horizon. 
