30 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
Vases and Urns. 
While a very general use of vases, urns, etc. , is 
not recommended in modern cemeteries, and in 
fact arc entirely prohibited in some, yet they are to 
be found in most cemeteries, and it must be admit- 
ted that when judiciously used and properly planted 
form attractive features. Indeed there are ceme- 
teries in which vases of standard bronze or artistic- 
ally carved granite answer the purpose of memorials 
to the departed without detracting in the least from 
the surrounding land-scape, and by their artistic out- 
lines, lend a charm to many a spot. 
A vase, or urn of a truly artistic design is rarely 
aided by what may be called ordinary bedding and 
trailing plants, nor do the plants seem happy in 
the combination. But there is a class of plants that 
does seem appropriate, and they are to be found 
among palms, aloes, and such plants, that have a 
sort of classical make up, and that do not hide or 
interfere in the chasest 2 rr 
design of the vessels in V 
which they may be plan- \ ^ 
ted. Except where va- \ ^ 
ses of very artistic design \ ,5 ^ 
are used trailing plants ' T [“ 
should be the 
main feature, 
hence the more 
nearly the vase 
or basket is com - 
pletely covered 
the more pleasing 
effect. 
In Lincoln Park in 
city there is a broad w 
called the Mall, lined 
low trees, it is perhaps a 
quarter-mile long, with „ 
magnificient prospect at 
either end. Plain flower beds and large vases 
of plants alternate the entire distance. These 
vases are of the simplest possible description, they 
are manufactured in the parks, and act as mere 
receptacles for the plants. From the first they 
are so covered in the planting that they are in effect 
a pyramid so to speak, of foliage and flowers. The 
accompaning engraving which first appeared in the 
American Florist , will show plainly the manner of 
construction. 
The boxes are made of common boards, secure- 
ly fastened to an upright, solidly set in the ground. 
The soil used has much to do with a full summers 
growth, and in those at Lincoln park, the gardener 
uses that of a medium texture, if too heavy it turns 
to mud when watered and then bakes like a brick. 
It requires_to be sufficiently porous to admit 
of water passing through it. To this soil one-third 
well rotted cow manure at least a year old is added. 
When filling the vases, about a peck of horn 
shavings is added, being far preferable to bone 
meal by actual trial. 
Tall geraniums are grown each year from the 
old plants for this vase filling, those on the outside 
being from the largest of the yearlings grown for 
the purpose. In the upper box, which is 2 feet in 
diameter at the top, 15 inches at the bottom and 12 
inches deep, are some of the large geraniums in the 
center, around these a mixture of silver leaved ger- 
aniums, cineraria, maritima, centaureas, inter- 
spersed with smaller geraniums. Then a few cal- 
ceolaria annua for its yellow, sweet alyssum, ver- 
bena hybrida for its color, ivy leaved geraniums, 
nasturtiums, a few lobelias and an occasional mar- 
guerite. 
In the bottom box, which is 3 feet across the top, 
and feet deep, the first row around the center 
is of tall geraniums, but not large enough to show 
over the center. Then follows much the same as 
in the upper box with the exception of the trailing 
plants. For this purpose those growing freely and 
with good long vines are selected and include vin- 
cas, single petunias, maurandia barclayana, german 
ivy, lophospermum scandens and nasturtiums, al- 
ways effective for this purpose. 
Vases planted so thickly as these are and such a 
mass of green to be supported from such a small 
share of earth, need attention and lots of water, 
more particularly after midsummer. Some of the 
plants are also put in at first for immediate effect, 
and cannot stand the crowding. The vases require 
going over just as do bedding plants, some trimmed 
out, others pinched etc., so that reasonable unifor- 
mity in growth is obtained. 
In other w'ords the more nearly the vase part is 
entirely hidden the greater the effect in this style of 
plant growing. It is always well to bear in mind 
when filling vases of iron and stone, except the very 
largest, the sun striking so fully on them, usually 
heats the soil to such a degree that the roots of ordi- 
nary plants cannot stand it. Not every one is ac- 
quainted with this fact, hence when requested to fill 
such vases it is well to remind customers that 
the chances of ordinary basket or vase plants doing 
well in them is not nearly so likely as if in wood, or 
if the plants are so thickly planted as to obstruct the 
direct rays of the sun. 
Many iron vases are made too shallow or with 
such small space for soil, it is useless to fill them 
with any thing else than plants like live-for-ever, 
aloes, ice plants and such like plants that withold- 
ing of water may dry up some but cannot kill alto- 
gether. 
