PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
Vol. XIX. Chicago, November, 1909 No. 9 
Horticultural Education 
How the times change ! Not so very long ago the technical 
horticulturist had a hard row to hoe, and his lack of prac- 
tical knowledge was in evidence as a drawback. The re- 
verse is now rapidly asserting itself, and to keep up with the 
procesion, as the saying goes, the practical man should seize 
the opportunities so freely offered to acquire the technical 
knowledge which will surely round them out. But so far 
as the younger generation is concerned, a few years’ practical 
work in gardening and horticulture makes a capital foun- 
dation for the technical course of the agricultural and other 
colleges; in point of fact to insure an early successful start 
such a foundation is necessary. There is considerable criti- 
cism yet afloat against college agriculturists and horticul- 
turists, but it is not well taken and is in a wrong spirit. The 
college does not pretend to compete in business with any- 
body; it simply endeavors to impart to the student the laws 
of nature which science has made plain, to teach the les- 
sons which such knowledge demonstrates as the right road 
to pursue, and to adapt to every-day conditions the prac- 
tice which such knowledge indicates as the wisest and 
most economical. There is no suggestion of the upsetting 
of valuable old ideas or practice in this; it simply adds 
the best of the new to the best of the old, and continues 
on its course to acquire better and broader knowledge as 
it develops. The college finished horticulturist always 
keeps in touch with this progress. There is one great 
thing to be said in favor of technical knowledge, it helps 
to avoid the mistakes of the past, and in this way, as in 
many others, it helps to save money. It is always well 
to keep up with the times and both in horticulture and 
agriculture. 
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A Mausoleum Problem 
The lack of knowledge in the past concerning the struc- 
tural requirements to insure permanency and stability in 
mausoleums is now the cause of a serious question in ceme- 
teries possessing such structures. It frequently develops that 
when decay and deterioration set in either the expense bill 
rapidly becomes burdensome or the building grows to be an 
eyesore and a menace to the physical appearance of the 
grounds. And usually no fund is available for repairs and 
possibly the owners repudiate the responsibility. From what- 
ever cause it may be, the fact remains that something must 
be done to change these conditions, and, whereas many of 
the larger cemeteries foreseeing these troubles may have ar- 
ranged with the lot holders for future care, the majority 
of cemeteries having mausoleums on their grounds have to 
face the problem. It should need no argument, now the 
facts are becoming manifest, that those who can afford such 
cemetery luxuries should also provide for their future care 
and maintenance; but it means a goodly deposit and a bet- 
ter understanding of cemetery obligations and laws. There 
appears to be one very sure way of meeting the difficulty, 
and in some cases it is being put into operation, and in 
many others seriously considered : not to permit the erection 
of any mausoleum without the funding of a sufficient sum 
of money, or perhaps other guarantees, to provide for all 
future contingencies. And as a further economical safe- 
guard, no mausoleum should be permitted unless the de- 
tails of construction promise the best assurances of per- 
manency, so far as the art of such construction is at pres- 
ent understood. 
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Concrete in the Cemetery 
The rapid development in the use of concrete for struc- 
tural and other purposes, is not so remarkable on second 
thought considering its adaptability and the comparative sim- 
plicity of its manipulation. Then, again, its durability under 
. proper conditions, is decidedly in its favor. Yet it was 
hardly to be expected that it would invade the cemetery and 
considering the special nature of cemetery ethics, the wish 
was probably father to the thought that it never .would. It 
has, however, in the larger way of the concrete mausoleum, 
and there is to hand a communication asking us for any data 
we may have as to whether permission should be granted by 
the cemetery authorities for concrete structures. Outside the 
knowledge that a number of concrete mausoleums for publie 
purposes are being erected at various points of the country, 
and that certain leading cemeteries will issue no permits 
for such structures, we are on the alert for any information 
on the subject. We would, therefore, be glad to hear from 
any cemetery superintendents, or other officials, having knowl- 
edge of such a matter, concerning the attitude of cemetery 
associates on the question, with their views regarding the 
advisability of using concrete for structural purposes in their 
own or in cemeteries generally. We should highly esteem 
early information. 
^ 
Municipal Playgrounds 
Some of the large cities are giving a broad interpretation 
to the municipal playground question; others are following in 
their wake, but sooner or later all important communities 
will realize the good to be achieved by authoritative atten- 
tion to the needs of the young during their growth into adult 
citizens. It is a commentary on commercialism that in its 
pursuit so much that promises a future greater good should 
have to be neglected and it is unquestionably true that no 
parent, so engrossed in business as the present day business 
conditions demand, can give the absolutely necessary atten- 
tion to his children’s needs that the state should require and 
so it devolves upon the municipality to take up some share 
of the home work in order that the next generation shall be 
equipped for the business of life and government as befits 
the enlightenment of the age. No one can read the reports of 
the progress of playground development and its already won- 
derful results without realizing the very great importance of 
this 'work. 
Petty Pilfering 
How to prevent the pilfering of flowers and flower recep- 
tacles in cemeteries and parks, is a question that often crops 
up especially in the smaller places, where adequate police 
protection is impossible for financial reasons. It is there- 
fore hardly possible to suggest a remedy otherwise than that 
eternal vigilance may meet with reward sooner or later, and 
that then the law will impose a punishment remedial in its 
effect upon the community. Where the attraction of certain 
lots apparently leads to frequent depredations some special 
detective work might result in the arrest of the delinquents, 
but circumstances differ in all places and advice in one case 
might be altogether wrong in another. It is possible that the 
local press would be of service in the prevention of these 
annoying thefts, at least it might help to raise the standard 
of community self respect to the end of rooting out the evil. 
