PARK AND CEMETERY. 
141 
made before the state and county Farmers’ Insti- 
tute. He had been invited to speak on the subject, 
“Beautifying of Homes,” in the course of which he 
gave some practical suggestions on embellishing 
school grounds, church yards and cemeteries, that 
created widespread interest among the farmers in 
that section. He advised members who want to do 
missionary work to get into touch with the county 
and township board of supervisors and bring the 
matter of cemetery improvements and how to ac- 
complish them directly to their attention. 
“Water Efiects in the Landscape” was the title of 
an instructive paper by Mr. George L. Tilton, 
“Graceland,” Chicago, which was followed by some 
pertinent questions propounded by Mr. Falconer to 
Mr. Tilton and others who had had experience in 
constructing lakes and lily ponds, and resulted in 
bringing out some very practical information. 
Second Day — August 22. 
At 8:30 a. m. the party took special cars for 
Woodmere Cemetery, where the group photograph, 
illustrated in this report, was taken. The morning 
session was held under a tent erected on the lawn 
near the superintendent’s residence for that purpose. 
Mr. Frederick Green, “Lake View,” Cleveland, O., 
discussed the subject of “Rough Boxes,” comment- 
ing on their unnecessary extravagance and the con- 
fusion and annoyance caused by the extraordinary 
sizes of some of the boxes brought to his cemetery. 
He favored having cemeteries manufacture their own 
rough boxes as a remedy for much of the trouble 
that grows out of their use. The most effective 
remedy he ever heard suggested for settling all the 
troubles that may arise between undertakers and the 
cemeteries was that the undertakers should either 
own the cemeteries or the cemeteries should employ 
the undertakers. The Necropolis Co., of London, 
England, he said, are undertakers, cremators, mon- 
umental masons, own a cemetery of a thousand 
acres, and do the whole thing from beginning to 
end. He could see no good reason why a com- 
petent cemetery manager should not extend his 
authority so as to cover the whole matter of inter- 
ment, and considered such a course in keeping with 
the spirit of the times. He commented on the 
charges made by some undertakers and thought 
they were carrying the commercial spirit too far. 
In the discussion which followed it developed that 
“Lakewood,” Minneapolis, Minn., and “Woodmere,” 
Detroit, Mich., make rough boxes for the local un- 
dertakers and furnish them at a very reasonable 
price. 
“Trees, Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants m the 
Cemetery” was the subject of the next paper by Mr. 
William Crosby, of Washington, Pa. He said when 
he took charge of the cemetery at Washington most 
of the grounds were primeval forest and the general 
plan is to leave sections of the forest between the lot 
sections. The superintendent has a free hand to 
plant everything that will flourish in that locality. 
He advocated preserving American vegetation in 
cemeteries and parks so that they may not disappear 
from the earth. “Hardy herbaceous plants should 
find a place in every cemetery, arranged according to 
the Linnean system ; properly marked and cata- 
logued they will be of great use to botanical classes 
and be one of the most interesting ornaments in the 
cemetery.” 
Mr. A. W. Blain, “Elmwood,” Detroit, Mich., 
discussed the paper which he regarded as an able 
one, and emphasized the importance of giving due 
consideration to the probable appearance of the trees 
in the future. 
Mr. William Stone, “Pine Grove,” Lynn, Mass., 
who has been giving considerable attention to tree 
pests, read a paper on “The Gypsy Moth,” in which 
he told of the ravages this insect Lad made in his 
vicinity and the steps taken to annihilate the pest. 
He exhibited small glass covered boxes containing 
moths in their various stages. 
While luncheon was being prepared the visitors 
made a tour of inspection over the beautifully wood- 
ed grounds, where they found many fine specimens 
of native trees. Of the 200 acres in Woodmere, two- 
thirds have been sold and eighteen or twenty acres 
around the entrance are reserved for ornamental 
effect. Here is seen some of the handiwork of the 
gifted Strauch. The improvements have all been of 
a permanent character. These include a massive 
stone entrance with offices and waiting rooms, a 
receiving vault of buff sandstone, built at a cost of 
$12,000, with 80 catacombs, and double doors at 
either end that insure excellent ventilation. Twelve 
private telephones at different places on the grounds 
and a system of bell signals keep the foreman and 
others in close touch with the office. Substantial 
residences are provided for the superintendent and 
for Assistant Superintendent Winters. Commodious 
barns, tool houses, carpenter shop for making rough 
boxes and an adequate equipment of machinery and 
implements are provided for keeping the roads and 
lawns in order. The perpetual care fund approxi- 
mates $100,000. 
Supt. Higgins has been in charge since 1869, two 
years after the cemetery was organized. The in- 
scription on his monument in the cemetery indicates 
that his labors here are being prolonged beyond his 
expectation. The line reads “Superintendent of the 
cemetery from 1869 to 189 — .” He still takes a very 
active interest in the cemetery and discussed reforms 
with the committee on inspection in a manner that 
indicated his desire to keep fully abreast of the 
