THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
15 
The Greenhouse in the Cemetery. 
There is scarcely a rural cemetery now worthy of the 
name in the West at least, that has not its greenhouse de- 
partment for the growing of cut flowers, and more par- 
ticularly for the preparation of all kinds of summer bloom- 
ing plants to be used for the decoration of the grounds 
and lots in summer. Even the village cemeteries in 
which the superintendent is gardener, sexton, etc., 
combined in one, make some effort in this line, either 
as part of the cemetery proper or in some cases per- 
haps, part the perquisite of the important position of 
sexton, all looking towards the decoration of the 
grounds in summer with flowers. Old fashioned hardy 
herbaceous plants are all right, no lover of gardening 
will decry against them. They have an individuality all 
their own and when rightly used have a charm not less 
so. But that other large class of plants ordinarily 
known as bedding plants, that either from their nature 
or changed into the condition by the skill of the 
gardener to be all summer bloomers, or rich with col- 
ored foliage, often of the most intense colors, if as the 
saying goes, has previously been run into the ground, 
are not going to disappear to suit the dictates of a 
fashion, and cemetery managers will do well to bear the 
thought in mind. 
It so happens (the writer thinks often advantageously) 
that in many of our older and best cemeteries, there 
is necessarily at least two distinct features. One, the 
older part, that will with difflculty be brought 
to conform to the more modern idea of lawns, trees, 
shrubbery and few flowers, and the newer addition that is 
started and managed with this idea exclusively, to say 
nothing of those started of late and entirely on the new lawn 
idea, so that as in many minds there are many opinions, 
each can select those that suits them best, although we 
suppose ultimately, on the principle of the survival of the 
fittest, and increased taste in the people the lawn idea 
will generally prevail. At any rate it will be a long time 
before the masses will take kindly to a mere bit of lawn 
with a stone marker to show their lot, with no flowers, 
or grassy grave to mark the spot where the loved ones 
are buried. It is wholly different with that smaller 
number who can command a large lot, mayhap with a 
single memorial tablet or monument, notable for its 
very impressiveness or cost, its fine keeping and part of 
a system extensive enough to form a pleasing whole. 
OAK WOODS CEMETERY, CHICAGO, AS AN EXAMPLE. 
As the writer has for many years known Mr. Alex. 
Reid, the gardener, and knew that a great breadth of 
glass is part of the establishment, we run down the 
other day to see how things looked, and on this occa- 
sion made the acquaintance of Mr. Bellet Lawson, the 
able superintendent who has recently taken charge. 
In all there are some fourteen greenhouses, but as 
that gives but a vague idea, suffice it to say they cover 
an area of about 35,000 feet, outside of the cold frames 
in which are now coming into flower some 40,000 
pansies. Two of the houses have roses, others carna- 
tions, callas and a large quantity of Dutch bulbs with 
other seasonable plants all for cut flower purposes, and 
we are assured now that none are sent into the city 
markets, nor will they be hereafter. The demand 
for flowers and plants for their patrons alone and for 
cemetery purposes rendering it unnecessary, besides the 
objectionable features of turning the consecrated 
grounds devoted to the dead to a money-making specu- 
lation in competition with legitimate florists. 
PRINCIPAL STOCK GROWN. 
Being a little curious to find out how many plants of 
the principal kinds are grown we find they will foot up 
a good way on towards half a million. For example of 
these few kinds there are used; 
Alternantheras, of soris 100, 000 
Echiveras, '' “ 50,000 
Geraniums, “ “ 50.000 
Coleus, “ " 25,000 
Pansies, “ " 40,000 
Asters, stocks, phlox and other similar plants, 50,000 
Total 315,000 
This list indicates pretty clearly the vast quantity of 
achiranthus, echiveras or. hen and chickens grown, 
which is also supplemented with lots of cineraria, 
maritima, centauria, Madame Saleroi geraniums, and 
similar plants, neither of which are of much use in 
gardening except as used in ribbon bedding style, that 
appears as one may easily infer by a view of the 
grounds in summer an important feature, encouraged 
by the management and wanted by lot owners. 
It seems that the silver foliage plants are used 
greatly here alternately with the red achiranthus and 
thus relieves and brightens up the thousands of yards 
of line color work done, even if more advanced super- 
intendents of the modern cemetery deprecate it. Just as 
soon as the pansies and other spring flowers begin to open 
up, the lot owner’s especially those having single graves 
begin to purchase, and we are assured here as elsewhere 
that planting is asked for in the case of new made graves 
almost up to frost time in the fall, although perhaps they 
are told it may not last a week if early frost comes. 
We suppose it safe to say the management at least 
among many cemeteries are not unmindful of the money 
in this plant-growing, but surely if a thing is done at all 
it should be done well, and such appears to be the con- 
dition of the greenhouse department as managed here. 
There is no manner of doubt but it more than pays its 
way, abundant material being at hand and in the ceme- 
tery, for such as are bound to decorate lots and graves 
with foliage or flowering plants, and hence easier con- 
trolled than when purchased outside and strangers al- 
lowed to do the planting. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN THE FALL. 
As these houses are most of them empty towards the 
end of summer, a great sight of 6,000 or 8,000 of 
chrysanthemums are grown. The stock is now being 
