PARK AND CEMETERY 
and Landscape Gardening. 
Vol. XVI. Chicago, July, 1906. No. 5 
Decoration Day. 
Memorial Day has gone by for this current year but 
it left some lessons and experience well worth notice. 
The growth of the sentiment which led to the appoint- 
ment of the day as one for national observance, found 
more expression this year than in any previous one 
close observers declare, and if that sentiment is to be 
gauged by the use of floral decorations and the busi- 
ness transacted by the florists, congratulations are cer- 
tainly in order from both the standpoints of sentiment 
and trade. It is to be regretted that the commercial 
side of the question will obtrude itself, perhaps too 
forcibly, as it detracts from the higher considerations 
attaching to the day, and is too apt in its activity to 
mar the occasion. Cemetery officials would undoubt- 
edly like to see the decorative features modified and 
the memorial sentiment more in evidence, especiall}^ in 
the larger cities. Nevertheless serious interest in the 
anniversary is certainly increasing, and as the personal 
interest recedes, the national sense of obligation grows 
clearer, and the manner of emphasizing this sense will, 
arrange itself to conform to the deeper significance of 
the annual event. This year there was a very decided 
leaning towards the peony for grave decoration ; the 
development of this flower in the past few years has 
been very marked, and its general characteristics sug- 
gest still greater possibilities for usefulness and enjoy- 
ment. 
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7he Press and Horiicaliural Education. 
The report of the Secretary of the National Council 
of Horticulture on its experimental press service has 
recently been made public. An effort was made by 
means of the distribution of carefully prepared horti- 
cultural matter to determine the willingness of the 
newspapers of the country, large and small, to print 
the same in their columns. The test has been success-, 
ful in spite of the small appropriation made for the 
purpose and the consequent impossibility of adopting 
the broadest measures for advertising the service. The 
willingness on the part of many prominent newspapers 
amounted almost to eagerness to secure the matter. 
Every assurance was given, of course, that the articles 
should have no flavor whatever of advertising, and 
that they should be calculated to stimulate public inter- 
est in horticulture, should be written by experts and 
give the readers authoritative and valuable informa- 
tion. The check that was maintained to determine 
what percentage of the papers to which the service was 
tendered made use of it showed it to be approximately 
90 per cent. The important lesson to be learned by all 
our improvement associations, and others interested in 
outdoor improvement, in this report, is that generally 
speaking newspapers of all classes realize that articles 
and information on horticultural and improvement af- 
fairs must be welcome reading to their subscribers. 
Entomology. 
The report of the superintendent for suppressing 
the gypsy and brown-tail moths of Massachusetts is a 
most valuable document, not alone to the people of the 
state, but to all interested in or affected by these pests. 
The legislature of 1900 refused to continue the crusade 
to suppress these insects and in consequence the area 
subjected to their ravages has increased from 359 to 
2,224 square miles. The matter is so serious that co- 
operative effort from all sources is invited by the new 
legislation, but the small appropriations do very little 
more than keep the devastation in check. There is, 
however, an important lesson suggested by this expe- 
rience of Massachusetts, and it is that all connected 
with horticultural work should take up the study of 
entomology, so far as to be able intelligently to under- 
stand and control insect ravages on the grounds under 
their charge. The}^ should also' have a knowledge of 
insecticides and the methods of their application. The 
value of the spray pump is now quite generally appre- 
ciated, but a broader acquaintance with the destructive 
insects, their liistory and habits, are absolutely neces- 
sary for the proper and effective use of spray ap- 
paratus. Superintendents of parks and cemeteries 
should take up this subject in order to prepare them- 
selves for times of trouble ; and it need not be an op- 
pressive task, for the Agricultural Department at 
Washington will supply the needful information. 
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(Arbor Day. 
There is a sentiment abroad that in some states 
Arbor Day has not been selected with due regard 
to the most essential points, connected with its use- 
fulness, and it would be well to study the matter 
more carefully so that future proclamations may ap- 
point the day so as to control the most desirable 
conditions. Hitherto, perhaps the most attention, 
in the appointment of the day, has been given to the 
interests of the children, looking for a possibly 
favorable day for outdoor exercises; but now that 
the anniversary is finally established, the needs of 
the material to be planted should be seriously con- 
sidered. No good results can be expected from ap- 
pointing a day for Arbor Day, too late for the good 
of the trees and plants to be planted. At any rate, 
it would be well to revise the question of Arbor Day 
dates. 
