PARK AND CEMETERY 
AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
Vol. XX Chicago, August, 1910 No. 6 
The Harrisburg Convention of Park Superintendents 
The convention of the American Association of Park 
Superintendents just concluded at Harrisburg, Pa., and 
of which a report is given on another page, was a stren- 
uous one, a very broad program having been prepared for 
the occasion. Harrisburg is a rapidly improving city; 
in fact going ahead in many of the up-to-date movements, 
to say nothing of the back action of certain of its legis- 
latures in the past, and it is within easy distance of the 
Gettysburg National Cemetery, a spot that every Ameri- 
can should visit when opportunity occurs, and this trip 
was incorporated into the program. Considerable atten- 
tion w-as given to the benefit of parks upon the com- 
munity, and it is a subject that cannot well be over- 
talked. It has been money in the pockets of every com- 
munity that has dealt liberally with it, and what is of 
far greater importance, parks have proved to be a moral 
force far and away beyond what it was ever considered 
their effects might be. The subject of roads also received 
considerable attention; it looks as though that with the 
advent of the automobile an entirely new practice must be 
adopted in road-making and maintenance, or that science 
must join hands with invention to prevent the destruc- 
tion of our highways by automobile traction. 
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The A. A. C. S. Convention at Chattanooga 
In many respects the approaching convention of the 
Association of American Cemetery Superintendents, to 
be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., October 12-14, should be 
one of the most interesting of these annual events. The 
time of year and location lend emphasis to this view. 
Late though it be for the northern states, the early 
fall is particularly attractive in southern Tennessee, pro- 
vided the clerk of the weather maintains his average 
record, which he usually does. The beautiful weather, 
gorgeous foliage, magnificent scenery and the great 
historic interest of the place are surely inducements 
enough, and when a good program is added for the bus- 
iness and educational entertainment of those present, no 
doubt must be entertained by those on whom the work 
of preparation falls as to the attendance. It should be 
large. October is the ideal month of the year in this 
part of the country and fears are groundless as to any 
probability of its being too warm; the weather is far 
more likely to attract attention from its very delightful- 
ness. The fact of there being attractions at both Chat- 
tanooga and Knoxville, at about the time of this con- 
vention, will mean cheap railroad rates to swell the num- 
ber present, and with a good program the progressive 
record of good meetings must be kept up. Our standing 
advice to cemetery corporations to send their superin- 
tendents, expenses paid, still holds good. 
^ 
The War on Our Insect Enemies 
An old note has again been struck anew in the war upon 
our destructive tree insects, and that is, that the trees 
on private properties in our cities should receive just as 
much attention and at the same time, if that be the proper 
time, as those being cared for by the city officer. It 
has been found and has been reported that the very 
rigid warfare carried on by many cities against destructive 
tree insects is quite seriously handicapped by the neglect 
of private owners; and that the hosts of the enemy left 
to increase and multiply, as they so wonderfully will, 
without any restrictions, simply migrate in due time to 
the neighboring city trees and thus continue their de- 
structive efforts. Some modifications of ordinance rules 
and regulations should be made to offset this condition,. 
so that abutting owners on tree-lined streets might have 
the duty imposed upon them of either protecting their 
own trees, or of contributing to the cost of such care by 
the city department. Really an educational campaign is 
in order in every town or city, to create a public senti- 
ment and enthusiasm in all matters suggested by the city 
beautiful idea. Effective work on the home trees can al- 
■ways be done bj' the children, and in many cases it has 
been found the best. The system of paying the boys and 
girls of the community for the quantity of egg masses 
and cocoons collected has been found to be a gratify- 
ing success where tried. 
California Birds and Agriculture 
The Department of Agriculture has concluded its in- 
vestigations as to the harmful or beneficial effect of Cal- 
ifornia birds upon the fruit industry of that state, and 
has issued its final report in Bulletin No. 34 of the Bio- 
logical Survey. Seventy species -were investigated, and 
the report claims that in “the long run no part of the 
capital invested in the farm or orchard is' more certain 
to pay big interest than the small sum collected as toll by 
the birds that harbor near the premises.” Deductions 
from the extensive investigations, undertaken in response 
to numerous complaints against the birds, show that the 
food habits of the seventy species, whose stomach con- 
tents were under examination, indicate that but four spe- 
cies common in California can be regarded as of doubtful 
utility. They are the linnet, California jay, stellar jay and 
red-breasted sap-sucker. “The more the food habits of 
birds are studied, the more evident is the fact that with 
a normal distribution of species and a fair supply of 
natural food, the damage to agricultural products by birds 
is small as compared with the benefit.” Evidently the Eng- 
lish sparrow has not yet reached the coast. 
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The Sunday Funeral 
The abatement of the Sunday funeral is progressing; 
slowl}' perhaps, but surely, and it is a reformation which 
is much to be desired in the great majority of such events. 
In the minority, for instance in the case of contagious 
-diseases, the Boards of Health wisely rule that exceptions 
must be made. The latest move in this reform is the 
unanimous vote at the Connecticut Funeral Directors’ As- 
sociation meeting, reccntl}^ held in New Haven, on the 
resolution to abolish the Sunday funeral as far as pos- 
sible in that state. 
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Prizes for Lawns and Flower Beds 
The People’s Gardens’ Association of 'Washington, D. 
C., has recently inaugurated a contest which should at- 
tract attention, and will be found as effiective for good 
in the national capital ^s it has been elsewhere when 
properly conducted. It offers eight prizes, either in sub- 
stantial amounts in cash, or suitable medals, at the option 
of the successful competitors, for the best results in lawn 
and garden beauty. 
