PARK AND CEMETERY 
532 
An 7 iual reports or extracts from them^ historical sketches, 
descriptive circulars, photographs of ifnprovetncnts or dis- 
tinctive features are requested for use in this depart7ncjit* 
At the recent annual meeting of the Kent Improvement As- 
sociation, East Greenwich, R. L, Secretary Gardner presented 
an interesting report of the committee on spraying for the 
San Jose Scale. The work had involved the task of spraying 
more than 700 trees of all sizes, and more than 260 shrubs 
and ornamentals. Total cost of the work was about $200. 
The Association is co-operating with the local chapter of the 
Daughters of the Revolution for the erection of stone seat 
as a memorial to Gen. Nathaniel Greene. 
* * * 
The Civic Improvement League of St. Joseph, Mo., which 
has offered prizes to children for improving home grounds has 
taken practical steps to educate them in the work of improve- 
ment. The league is endeavoring to secure control of the va- 
cant lots in the city to be used as instruction grounds for the 
children, and also plans to teach them by means of stereop- 
ticon lectures. The Joplin Civic Improvement League, Joplin, 
Mo., has also offered prizes for the best kept lawns. The city 
has been divided into four districts, each in charge of a spe- 
cial committee, and the following prizes offered in each dis- 
trict : Three $2.50 prizes, for best kept lawns; three $1.50 
prizes for the best vines ; and three $1.00 prizes for the best 
flower garden. 
;|! * * 
The Village Improvement Association, of West Haven, 
Conn., has devoted much of its attention to the preservation 
of trees in that village. It has disseminated much informa- 
tion concerning the growth and habits of the trees and has 
planted many on the highways. It has been instrumental in 
abating the nuisance of placarding the trees with notices 
and preventing their injury by horses that have hitched to 
them. At one of the meetings of the society every one present 
agreed to plant a tree before a certain date and most of the 
promises were kept. A spraying apparatus is soon to be pur- 
chased to assist in the work. The association is also giving 
its attention to the establishment of new parks and the im- 
provement of unsightly vacant lots. 
* * * 
Erastus Brainerd, editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 
writes to the headquarters of the American Civic Association 
as follows : “I enclose under separate cover photographs of 
dirty and clean Seattle, for reproducing as lantern slides, such 
as you may choose. I wrote you for suggestions as to how 
to get action in cleaning up a city. I can tell you how as to 
one city — get a daily newspaper to run photographs of the 
dirty lots and places and you will see the whole city get busy 
in a hurry. At first it was a joke, then some persons grew 
^ngry, and then general interest was aroused. Of course the 
paper hammered at the subject daily editorially. Result — a 
general clean up, new ordinances with general clause, garbage 
collection wagon for board of health (previously lacking) 
block system of neighborhood cleaning, and tree and flower 
^planting throughout the city, most amazing to see.’’ 
The Town Improvement Association of Stoneham, Mass., 
has taken an original manner of calling attention to the 
Brown-tail moth by inserting this notice in the local paper : 
BROWN-TAILS ATTENTION ! 
The Town Improvement Association has known you some 
time and are warmly interested in you. They want to warn 
you, that when you begin flight, soon after July 5th, a large 
number of people are going to set a dangerous trap for you. 
They will set tubs in their yards, nearly filled with water, with 
a half-pint of kerosene oil on the water. Each evening quite 
early, they will hang a common lantern, cleaned, filled and 
lighted, about half an inch above the water and leave it there 
all night. This they will do as long as you fly by night. 
Everyone of you who flies to that light will bump your head 
on the glass, drop in the oil, and die instantly. Thousands 
of you die before your work is half done. Beware of this 
trap. Just a word to householders in Stoneham. These little 
friends of yours expect just this attention. Don’t disappoint 
them, for each female visitor will bring about 300 of her 
children to the picnic; and Your children will be happier next 
year, and you will have more fruit and less taxes. If your 
trap works well just mention it to: 
D. D. Peabody, 
* * * Committee. 
The annual meeting of the Belfast Improvement Society, 
Belfast, Maine, celebrated the 5th anniversary of the associa- 
tion, and an interesting review of the work done was pre- 
sented by the officers. The first work of the society in 1900- 
was the rebuilding of the grand stand on the city common 
and the construction of a gravel footpath on Northport Ave- 
nue. In 1901-2 a granite carriage block was erected in front 
of the public library and reproductions of some famous paint- 
ings placed in eleven public schools. The principal work 
for 1902-3 was the building of a pavilion, bathhouses, shore 
ovens, and other picnic conveniences at the foot of Condon 
St. Barrels for rubbish were placed about the city and the 
water supply extended to Grove Cemetery. A public clam 
bake was given this year also which netted a handsome profit. 
The chief energy of the society in 1903-4, in addition to raising 
funds for the band, giving a course of entertainments and 
keeping the streets clean, was devoted to securing an appro- 
priation for a city park. The effort resulted in securing a 
tract of 15 acres on the shore of the bay. During the past 
season new rubbish barrels were placed about the city. Rustic 
seats were also located at convenient points. Arrangements 
are now being made to inaugurate systematic care for the city 
trees. The society has 120 members. Mrs. Chas. A. Pils- 
bury is president, and Mrs. Geo. E. Brackett is secretary. 
* * * 
WHAT THE SOCIETIES ARE DOING. 
The Civic Improvement League of Elmira, New York, 
has taken up the work of improving the Second Street Ceme- 
tery. They will co-operate with lot owners and as a beginning 
to the work are to publish a full list of the lot owners. 
The Village Improvement Association of Bar Harbor, 
Maine, is engaged in raising a fund of $2500 for the improve- 
ment of the town lot. Suscriptions already amount to $1795. 
The South Woodlawn Improvement Society, Pawtucket, R, 
L, has appointed committees to purchase a site for a new 
building which it is to erect. 
The Fairmount Improvement Association, Hyde Park, 
Mass., is agitating and directing the work of abolishing 
grade crossings in the village. 
The Charlton Village Improvement Society, Charlton, Mass., 
is raising a fund of $1000 for the improvement of Charl- 
ton Common and the adjoining streets. 
