PARK AND CEMETERY. 
i39 
v y. yTTJCTlt) (7T T3 yiooati OFToa^T3oncaarolT)a^oMO(ymcm)o^co^owmt3a^<yrooTO(TTT5cyTT)o^oaT)(>lcaaco^oaDoaoo^(rTT) an ewe o4o (jtb 04x304^ -ttJ 
~ CORRESPONDENCE. 
Private Graveyards of New England. 
The private burial grounds of New England are amongst 
the relics of colonial times, and for all practical purposes are 
relegated to the past; we find them in various positions, upon 
the farm, and upon the homestead and in various conditions 
also. The sympathies of people connected with cemetery work, 
naturally extend themselves beyond the limits of their own do- 
main. 1 was struck by the painful contrast between two of these 
private grounds I noticed upon a recent excursion to Newport, 
R. I. The remains of the first president of Rhode Island, along 
with, I presume, some members of his family, are interred in a 
small plot of ground, nicely enclosed and kept in order; a large 
and elegant monument has been erected to his memory, as the 
inscription thereon informs us, by a lineal descendant. Under 
present circumstances, to remove the remains of this illustrious 
man, and of those buried with him, would seem to be an act of 
sacrilege, so by all means let them rest in peace. 
A few miles from Newport, upon the main road, in full view 
of the thousands of people the electric cars carry between New" 
port and the neighboring city, is another private burial ground, 
with several old fashioned gravestones; to say that it is unen- 
closed and uncared for, would not describe its condition; for P 
is surrounded by wire netting, and a small flock of hens are ever 
diligent in their efforts to level off the mound, in accordance 
with modern ideas of cemetery care, and to scratch up the bones, 
an important element in egg producing, according to modern 
ideas of poultry keeping. 
It seems strange that in this enlightened age, there are peo- 
ple who will tolerate this state of things beneath their very win- 
dows. I would suggest that the legislators, who are trying to 
prevent the removal or defacement of natural landmarks, might 
profitably devote some effort to prevent the desecration of these 
private graveyards, either by the removal of the remains to 
some properly organized cemetery, or by making such indigni- 
ties as we have spoken of a punishable offense. T. White. 
* * * 
The interest which attaches to the following letter from 
Mr. H. W. S. Cleveland, suggests its publication. Mr. Cleve- 
land is one of the pioneers of landscape art in this country, whose 
active career extends over more than half a century of time, and 
whose interest, although he is of very advanced age, is keenly 
alive to the higher development of the profession in which he 
was so long an arduous worker: 
Hinsdale, III., Aug. nth, 1898. 
Editors Park and Cemetery: 
Gentlemen: — You know that my life has been devoted to 
the work you are advocating and it is a source of joy and na. 
tional pride yvith me to trace the advance we have made 
within my recollection in an art which tends so directly to ele- 
vate the character of our people. 
When I began my work as a land scape gardener more than 
sixty years ago, the only periodical devoted to the art was “ The 
Horticulturist" edited by A. G. Downing who was my personal 
friend and instructor. It was years after that when I first heard of 
a thriving village on Lake Michigan called Chicago. The farthest 
western point reached by a railway at that time was Harrisburg, 
Penn. My only regret in receiving your present is that I have 
but one eye left, and that is so weak that I read with difficultyand 
have to rest frequently. I am in my 84 th year, and although my 
health was never better and my physician says I am good for many 
years to come, — my senses have failed me terribly. I am so deaf 
that it is useless for anyone to try to read to me, but I suffer no 
pain, and above all my mental faculties are left to me. 
You will perceive that I have acquired the proverbial gar 
rulity of old age, for which I beg you will pardon me, and be- 
lieve me, very truly yours, H. W. S. Clevedand. 
* * * 
The Disadvantage of Selecting Trees for Cemetery Planting. 
The poo: judgment used in the selection of trees for plant- 
ing in cemeteries, has proven to be a source of great evil in 
most of our cemeteries, as well as many of our city streets. 
Trees that are indigenous to this country, and of rapid growth, 
seem to predominate, such as soft maples, poplars, &c. , and the 
result of this selection becomes an eyesore in a few years, as we 
come to realize that at the time when these trees should be at 
their best, we begin to question the selection of varieties. 
Recently, while in Uniondale Cemetery, Allegheny, Pa., I 
saw in the old part of the cemetery a very poor selection of 
trees. Indeed, in one section there was scarcely anything else 
but Southern cypress (Taxodium distichum), and in all the other 
sections nothing but cotton poplar, swamp maple and one or two 
elms; and these had been planted so close to the edge of the 
drive that the limbs had to be cut off over the driveways. Half 
of these are decayed and shed their foliage all through the sum- 
mer. Cutting off the bottom limbs has a tendency to make the 
tree top heavy, and frequently limbs of these unsightly monsters 
are torn from the trunks during storms, each storm adding to its 
record of destruction, frequently uprooting the whole tree. 
In another part of this cemetery we find conditions that are . 
keeping step with the march of modern ideas. Mr. William Har- 
ris, the superintendent, has inaugurated asystem of planting that 
will fully repay his care. In the n. wer portions can be seen to 
advantage the wisdom of selecting trees that are adapted for 
each location. 
In the later sections the planting of trees and shrubs has 
been diligently prosecuted, and some of the avenues will, in a 
few years, equal any that are now existing in our cemeteries. In 
the planting of these grounds, Mr. Harris has adopted a system 
that may well be copied by other tree planters. He plants his 
trees, where conveniently situated, 5 feet from the curbing; this 
method obviates the cutting oft of healthy limbs, a practice 
which prevails extensively. The superintendent contemplates 
planting a large amount of trees the coming Fall and Spring, 
and is working on a plan for the entrance to the new division. 
The trees principally used by Mr. Harris: chestnut, lindens, pin 
oaks, liquidamber, ginko, elms, maples and white birch. 
David D. Howells, Allegheny , Pa. 
* * * 
A New Rule to Govern the Sale of Lots. 
Mr. Benj. Radcliffe, Marcus, la., sends the following reso- 
lution , adopted by the Marcus & Amherst Cemetery Associa- 
tion, of Marcus, la., with these remarks: The object of the 
resolution is apparent from its reading, but I am notsuie that it 
is practicable, and I would like to get the opinion of others 
through Park and Cemetery, as to whether such a rule 
would be feasible or of practical use: 
Resolved, by the Marcus & Amherst Cemetery Association, 
of Marcus, Iowa: That in all sales of lots hereafter made, there 
shall be included as a consideration of such sale a condition that 
the purchaser shall pay annually to the Association such sum, 
not to exceed a certain sum stated, as may be fixed by the Board 
of Trustees, to be expended under the direction of the Board in 
the care of the lot sold and a proportionate part of the adjoining 
walks, and providing that on failure of such payments, the sum 
stated may be advanced and expended by the order of the 
Board in care of such lot and adjoining walk, and the amount so 
expended shall be a lien upon such lot in favor of the Associa- 
tion; and upon the failure or default of three or more of such 
annual payments, the said lot, or so much and such part thereof 
as the Board may deem equitable, shall be forfeited to, and 
upon declaration of the Board of Trustees, shall revert to the 
Association. Provided, that this regulation shall not apply to 
lots sold on a guaranty of perpetual care, wherein the payment 
for such care ts otherwise provided. 
