PARK AND CEMETERY. 
1S7 
At Springfield I found the first cemetery I have 
yet come across that boldly announces itself by 
name as a park. When I heard that the leading 
cemetery was called Maple Park I felt that I was to 
see a pronounced if not ultra example of the lawn 
plan. 
It is about the least park-like of any I have yet 
seen. 
But there are evidences of excellent intentions, 
and while there is room for serious criticism of the 
grounds and methods, there is much to heartily 
commend. There can be no doubt about the nice 
feeling that prompts the officials to apply the im- 
provement fund at command to building a spacious, 
convenient and attractive dwelling for their super- 
intendent, and the appropriateness of this step be- 
comes pronounced when it is learned that this officer 
is a woman, Mrs. E. H. Lair, one of the two who, 
so far as I know, occupy such a position. In addi- 
tion to this substantial improvement much well 
made new roadway, to correspond with the older 
roads, was in course of construction when I was 
there. Evidently what is done at Maple Park is 
well done, which makes it certain that when the 
management realizes the defects in their plan the 
rectification will be thorough and complete. 
I trust that it will be decided to introduce the 
lawn plan without delay, for otherwise the fine hard 
Maples that are now a source of pride will be ruined. 
The grounds derive their name from these trees 
which are at present really fine, but they will suon 
be permanently spoiled unless they are thinned. 
There are far too many of them for the size of the 
enclosure and they are set in stiff rows that are the 
reverse of park-like. Indeed the effect is the same 
as the closely set wind breaks that shelter hundreds 
of farm houses on the broad wind-swept prairies of 
Illinois. Just rectangular blocks of timber. 
These formal rows of maple make the grounds 
monotonous when seen from either without or 
within, and in addition the almost unvarying use of 
Irish Junipers on lots already occupied, produce a 
deadly monotony that is unrelieved by the shrubs' 
and vines that ought to be used there with excellent 
results. 
The formal stiffness of the entire ground is sug- 
gested by the design of the entrance, which is good as 
far as it goes, but plainly shows the lack of vines and 
shrubs to soften the hard lines and blend trees and 
sward into a harmonious picture. 
The planting of this cemetery as it stands is bad, 
but fortunately it is in excellent shape for remodel- 
ing on wholly different lines. And, becter still, the 
monotony begins to pall, the Junipers to die, and the 
pleasant superintendent to realize the mistakes of 
the past. The trees are so numerous and so uniformly 
good that an artist could design alterations that, if 
carried out next spring, would speedily make Maple 
Park justify its attractive name. 
* * * 
No one feature of cemeteries needs more atten- 
tion than boundaries. 
In a region abounding in stone no boundary is 
more appropriate than stone walls. Southern and 
southwest Missouri is rich in such material. In 
some locations bowlder walls would be possible, 
and by the addition of picturesque planting would 
be artistic and fitting. 
In others, walls built of flat stones, either with 
or without masonry, and partly covered by native 
vines would be both beautiful and suitable. 
The accompanying engraving of a stone wall 
forming part of the boundary of Graceland Ceme- 
WALL AT GRACELAND CEMETERY, CHICAGO. 
tery, Chicago, (designed by Mr. O. C. Simonds, to 
whom we are indebted for the photograph used,) 
aptly illustrates these suggestions. It is made of 
flat stones without masonry and serves as a retain- 
ing wall for the very sandy soil of the interior which 
at that point is higher than the street grade. The 
interstices of the wall are filled with good soil in 
which slips of Virginia Creeper ate rooted and at 
this time largely clothe the exterior of the wall. 
In soil that retains water such a retaining wall 
would require masonry and the vines could then be 
planted against the base. 
This illustration also shows the advantage of 
border plantations inside cemetery boundaiies. 
They serve the double purpose of screening the 
grounds from surrounding streets and dwellings, 
and giving appropriate seclusion to the interior. 
Such treatment is desirable for all cemeteries 
but perhaps especially so for those located near the 
dwellings of the living, and su :h treatment is sanc- 
tioned by the best landscape gardeners. 
Fanny Copley Scavey . 
