PARK AND CEMETERY. 
9 
ials the society takes charge of it; on the other hand 
should there be remaining relatives of lot owners 
who decline to contribute for the care of such lots 
the society simply lets it alone.” 
So far as the general welfare of the cemetery is 
involved this is the weak spot in the management, 
as it is in all such cases; and all things considered it 
would be better to care for such lots, using every 
possible inducement to secure help from those from 
whom it should come, and trusting that the educa- 
tional influences excited by the good work will 
eventually induce reform. 
A committee is appointed to collect such sub- 
scriptions, which as yet do not equal expenses, so 
that a draft has to be made on the funds received 
from sales of lots. But there has been sufficient re- 
ceipts to enable the society to form a sinking fund. 
The old ground comprised only two acres, to 
which has been added four more, but it is the care 
of the old ground that eats up the income, and no 
funds are contributed towards its care by village. 
It is interesting as bearing upon cemetery de- 
velopment by the women to note some further details 
as described by Mrs. Baldwin: 
“When we were ready to construct the drives in 
the new part, we took balls of carpet-rags, because 
the bright colors and the white could be more eas- 
ily seen, and laid out a driveway, staking the strings 
here and there to hold them. We then measured 
the width of the road and staked some more carpet- 
rags on the other side. We made curves and points 
to suit our fancy. Then we had a bee and invited 
the men to come with teams, plows, scrapers, drays, 
etc., and before night our drives were made. We 
served the dinner under the trees. We employed a 
surveyor to lay out the lots and make a plat. We 
divided the new ground into five sections, in someof 
which the lots are 1 2 ft. by 20 ft., in others 20 ft. 
by 20 ft. Along the front we have planted the five 
leaf ivy, a root at each post; it covers posts and 
chains in many places and at the fall season is a 
blaze of color. 
“The payment of $25 secures the perpetual care 
of a lot and this sum is placed in the bank in a sepa- 
rate fund and draws the interest 
only. 
“All fractional lots are re- 
served as ornamental ground. A 
long lane, or drive, leads from 
the main road to the grounds, 
and at the entrance to the ceme- 
tery we have a wooden arch 
covered with vines.” 
The accompanying illustra- 
tions add interest to this de- 
scription. It will be observed 
that the fence can be much im- 
proved by a more profuse plant- 
ing of vines to fill up the gaps. 
The society is composed of 
and entirely controlled by women, and they will 
be glad to assist sister organizations in other places 
with their experience in a work, which is in the high- 
est degree commendable, and of which there is such 
crying need in so many communities. 
For ornamental bedding the Acalypha is bound 
to become more popular as it becomes better known. 
Its foliage is very showy without being gorgeous. 
The colors are as bright as the best of Coleus, and 
the plants are much hardier and not liable to wilt in 
the hottest and driest weather. The beauties of the 
Acalypha were appreciated by those who attended 
the last two conventions and had opportunities of 
seeing beds of this plant at St. Louis and Dayton. 
A few pips of common asparagus, will form a 
very pleasant feature in the ornamental planting of 
your grounds. In any nook, or at a corner where 
an ornamental bed cannot be made, put in half a 
dozen pips of asparagus. It will require no care or 
attention and the effect during summer will be 
charming. Try it. 
Cemetery superintendents do not sufficiently ap- 
preciate the usefulness of hot-beds for getting things 
ready for summer planting. Annuals can be sown 
in boxes and transplanted, gaining a lot of valuable 
time; and where greenhouses are located hot-beds 
are invaluable for hardening off plants ready for out- 
door planting. Make a heap of a few loads of fresh 
horse manure, well trampled, and left about three 
feet high; then cover with, say, four or five inches 
of soil. In a few days the superabundant heat will 
have evaporated and the bed be ready for sowing. 
The sides and ends can be madefrom 2-inch plank 18 
inches at back and 12 in front. Sash frames can be had 
from firms advertising such material in this journal. 
ANOTHER VIEW IN CEMETERY OF BIRMINGHAM, MICH. 
