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PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING 
Vol. XX Chicago, March, 1910 No. 1 
The “Pure Insecticides” Bill 
The use of insecticides to protect our fruit and orna- 
mental trees and shrubs from the ravages of destructive 
insects and fungi has become so absolutely necessary, 
that the question of purity is an invaluable consideration. 
A goodly crop percentage is now annually lost through 
the poor and often adulterated chemicals which are foisted 
upon the growers and farmers, so that if we must have 
legislation to compel honest and square dealing, even in 
the matter of insect poisons, let it be drastic enough to 
•ensure reform. Our readers will help the cause by drop- 
ping a line to their congressmen demanding their votes 
■on H. R. 3,658, or to Hon. Jas. R. Mann, chairman of the 
•Committee on Interstate Commerce, Washington, D. C. 
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The Courts and the Billboards 
As is quite usual, it takes the courts a long time to 
realize that the viewpoint in decisions must change as 
changes come about in the will and well-being of the 
people. This has been well illustrated in the campaign 
against the billboard as a means of advertising. Years 
.ago it was difficult to get a court decision that seemed 
to be based upon anything but the past in reference to 
the tyranny of the billboard interests, but it is gratifying 
to notice that the law is gradually coming to the conclu- 
sion that eyes and noses were given for other uses than 
to see a billboard and smell a garbage heap, and that the 
public have property rights in the landscape and to pure 
air. In regard to the billboard we are slowly coming into 
•our own as will be noticed by the welcome decision of 
Judge Woodson, of the Missouri Court, who gave it as 
his individual opinion that: “This class of advertising, 
as now conducted, is not only subject to control and regu- 
lation by the police power of the state, but it might be entirely 
suppressed by statute, and that, too, without offending either 
against the state or federal constitution.” 
■City Play Grounds 
From the amount of money annually expended by those of 
our larger cities which have adopted the idea of supplying 
playgrounds for the children, it may be confidently believed 
that such expenditures have been found to be good invest- 
ments. And what on earth influences Congress to be parsi- 
monious in this direction for the District of Columbia is a 
•conundrum ; it is one of those unfortunate evidences which 
tend to show how far behind the intelligence of the people 
•our representatives at Washington often are. This new 
movement has stimulated the public sense to a better under- 
-standing of what it means to surround the children with good 
influences, and excite the desire for healthful exercise, which, 
•combined, so strengthen the moral and physical being, that 
itheir future growth into complete citizenship promises both 
•character and wealth for the state. So much good has already 
resulted from the establishment of small parks and play- 
grounds in our industrial centres, and so much interest is 
growing in the question, that it should make itself felt in a 
practical way in every city where the youthful population will 
warrant the payment of salary to a competent instructor or 
■superintendent. If it only could be realized or credited, the 
■growth of innumerable small towns and villages would amply 
repay by good citizenship in the future, the comparatively small 
outlay for a permanent playground at the present. 
When one sees the effects on the neighboi'hood of a well- 
conducted city playground its value is easily appreciated. 
It can be seen and, as it is said, almost felt. Perhaps in 
no other city in the world has the movement been put 
into better practical working than in Chicago, and the 
last report of the South Park Commissioners of that city 
gives remarkable results. 
Statistics have been gathered that show that juvenile 
delinquency has diminished more than can be readily be- 
lieved, so that the South Park Board must certainly be 
congratulated on the great work it is accomplishing. This 
fact further emphasizes, not only the wisdom, but the 
absolute moral necessity, on the part of every municipal- 
ity, to make immediate efforts to follow an example so 
fruitful of good for the community. The stage of experi- 
ment is past, the principle is established, and what changes 
will come about are only those that improvement will 
suggest. 
Practical Horticultural Education 
The engagement of practical men to deliver addresses 
and talks on agricultural, floricultural, or horticultural 
subjects by some of the agricultural colleges is a very 
commendable method of rounding out the quasi-technical 
education imparted to their students. In spite of all the 
efforts sincerely made by such institutions to provide a 
practical education for future farmers, fruit growers, 
stockmen, etc., the fact remains that when a student is 
invested with responsibility in his chosen field of work, 
he finds, not only very much still to learn, but also much, 
in a certain sense, to unlearn, and this is in no sense 
whatever a disparagement of the splendid advantages 
that are offered so freely and reasonably to the students 
at our agricultural colleges. Circumstances alter cases in 
nearly every step we take, and while principles remain 
standard, practice varies; and, therefore, to secure for the 
student all possible knowledge of a practical nature iii 
order to help him to grasp and conquer the difficulties 
which will pretty constantly confront him when he be- 
gins real life, is a wise effort on the part of those having 
charge of our state colleges. Practical talks by success- 
ful men in the business add working precept and example 
to the curriculum. 
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Cement Work for Park and Cemetery Use 
The increase in the use of cement in the past few years; 
in concrete, its adaptability to so many details of con- 
struction and its durability makes the annual cement show, 
held in Chicago last month, a positive education. The 
extensive use of cement in municipal improvement, in 
bridge and building structures, on the farm and in the 
park, suggests the necessity for those in any way inter- 
ested to view the progress displayed year after year. 
Industrial exhibits nowadays are not only exhibits in the 
true sense, but to a very large extent are schools of in- 
struction in methods and manipulation, while those in 
charge have to be practical men in order to do justice 
to their charge; so that it is possible to glean a great 
amount of information which becomes of importance 
sooner or later. Cement is an economical material in con- 
struction, and its merits should be understood. 
