PARK AND CEMETERY 
and Landscape Gardening. 
Vol. XV CHICAGO, OCTOBER, 1905. No. 8 
(Atnericm Ci'bic c/lssoctaiton at Cle’veland. 
The Cleveland Convention of the American Civic 
Association, October 4-6, was in all respects a notable 
gathering of improvement workers, and shows remark- 
able progress in systerhatic organization and extension 
of the work of making a more beautiful America. 
The addresses by men and women of national reputa- 
tion expressed the ripest thought of modern times on 
all lines of civic effort from the cleaning up of back 
yards to the elaborate grouping plans for public build- 
ings which are under consideration by several cities. 
The work is well systematized in fifteen departments, 
each in charge of a vice-president, and its development 
has been no less than astonishing since the union of the 
two leading improvement organizations resulted in the 
formation of this association last year. The number 
of improvement societies more than doubled during the 
year ; the receipts were more than double the combined 
resources of both organizations before the amalgama- 
tion; and the attendance was about three times that of 
last year. While the attendance is still not large as 
conventions go, when it is considered that nearly every 
individual present represents an organization, and 
will take back to that organization the inspiration of 
such a meeting, the measure of its value to the cause 
of improvement may be faintly realized. It is safe to 
say that more valuable matter on the improvement of 
civic life was never presented at a meeting in this 
country. 
^ ^ ^ 
Proper Choice of Trees and Shrubs. 
The amount of money annually wasted by the pa- 
trons of nurseries in the selection of trees and shrubs, 
totally unsuited to local soil and climatic conditions, 
is quite a serious matter. Not only is the waste of 
money to be deplored, but the effects of such mis- 
directed effort are even more serious from the dis- 
couragement that surely follows. And much of this is 
due to the attractive illustrations and glowing de- 
scriptions of planting material to be found in the cata- 
logues, which fail however to give the necessary in- 
formation to assist the purchaser in the selection of 
material suitable to the local requirements. It is quite 
an established fact that a large percentage of the list 
of ornamentals which flourish in the East will not do 
so in the Western States, a number of them being 
complete failures, although presumably they belong to 
the particular latitude traversing the continent. In this 
regard some of the books on horticulture emanating 
from the East are more or less misleading, especial- 
ly in their cultural and propagating directions. This 
whole question suggests an investigation and a class- 
ification of the ornamental trees and shrubs in order 
to furnish information to those desirous of becoming 
identified with the outdoor improvement movement. 
'f 'f 
The Essex County, N. J., Park System. 
The historical sketch of the Essex County, N. J., 
park system, which has recently appeared in the New- 
ark, N. J., News, written by Mr. Frederick W. Kel- 
sey, is another evidence of the deplorable condition of 
political morals, and should exert a powerful influence 
in educating the people of the state to insist upon re- 
form in the conduct of their public affairs. Political 
jobbery, which always means robbery, in connection 
with park development never had the slightest excuse 
for existence, except from the apathy and neglect 
of the citizens themselves, and the expose of the out- 
rageous efforts and disgraceful proceedings of the poli- 
ticians in the course of the creation of this fine park 
system, reflects upon the good sense and intelligence of 
everybody whose vote was cast to elect men guilty 
of such flagrant abuse of trusts It is to be hoped that 
the developments now being consummated throughout 
the length and breadth of the land displaying wide- 
spread moral delinquency in both politics and finance, 
will lead to concerted public effort to check the tide of 
national dishonor. 
^ ^ ^ 
Cemetery Superintendents in Con'hention. 
The Association of American Cemetery Superintend- 
ents, held the largest convention in its history at 
Washington, D. C., September 19-22. Evening ses- 
sions and the banquet were abandoned and only one 
business session a day held. This proved a wise policy 
and resulted in a fuller attendance at all sessions and 
lively discussions of the subjects presented. Another 
improvement that might well be made in future con- 
ventions is to provide for a more systematic study of 
the cemeteries of the city where the convention meets, 
perhaps by means of addresses on them or by the ap- 
pointment of committees to investigate and report on 
the features of chief interest. Aside from the large at- 
tendance and the enthusiastic interest in the meetings, 
perhaps the most significant feature of the convention 
was the growth of the state and local associations, 
each of which sent a delegate to the national body. 
There are now four of these, all growing rapidly, and 
they are destined to furnish many new members to the 
larger organization and result in great improvement 
in the smaller cemeteries. 
