Fall Fertilizers for Lawn. 
To stimulate the growth of a lawn and 
to improve its appearance for the following- 
spring no better treatment can he recom- 
mended than the application of properly 
rotted manure in the late fall, according to 
the United States Department of Agricul- 
ture’s specialist. This application should 
not be made until after the frosts have 
stopped the growth of the grass. Ten to 
twenty-two horse loads should be applied 
to the acre, according as the soil is more 
or less rich. 
It is most important that the manure 
should be thoroughly rotted before applica- 
tion,- so that all weed seeds are killed, 
otherwise damage done by weeds will more 
than offset the fertilizing value of the ap- 
plication. Manure really needs careful han- 
dling before it is suited for spreading over 
the lawn. Unless it is properly composted 
it may have most of its valuable constitu- 
ents destroyed by improper handling. To 
compost manure properly it should be treat- 
ed as follows : 
Pile all manure in heaps with alternate 
layers of sod . or other litter. Keep it wet 
enough so it will not burn. Let it stand a 
whole year through summer and winter, 
forking it over two or three times during 
the year. It will then be ready for use on 
the lawns and danger from weed seeds will 
be minimized. 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
Ground Bone Meal and Wood Ashes. — 
Many people object to the use of manure 
at all, not only because of the danger from 
weed seeds, but because of its unsightly 
and insanitary appearance. These will un- 
doubtedly prefer to use something else, and 
the most economical substitute is finely 
ground bone or bone meal. This should be 
applied at the rate of from 500 pounds to 
one ton per acre, according as the ground 
is more or less rich. It should cost be- 
tween $25 and $30 a ton. 
With the bone meal it is desirable to use 
double the quantity of wood ashes. These 
ashes contain considerable lime in a very 
desirable form, as well as other valuable 
elements. However, they are apt to be 
more or less costly. 
Ordinarily muriate of potash would be 
found more economical than wood ashes, 
although the potash does not contain the 
lime which the other fertilizer imparts to 
the soil. On account of the European war 
the potash may prove more difficult to ob- 
tain than the wood ashes. Only one-tenth 
the quantity of potash should be used as of 
bone meal. 
The potash may be sown separately or 
mixed with the bone meal as desired. The 
same is true of wood ashes if these are 
I’.sed instead of potash. All applications 
should be made before the ground freezes 
305 
permanently for the winter, as otherwise 
the fertilizer may be largely washed from 
the soil before it has a chance to become 
incorporated with it. 
In regions where cottonseed meal may 
be obtained at a price not over $25 per ton 
it may be used satisfactorily in the place of 
the ground bone. Tankage and fish scraps 
are even richer in important elements than 
ground bone, but are frequently in bad 
mechanical condition for handling (that is, 
they contain hair or other foreign coarse 
matter). Their bad odor also makes them 
objectionable. 
Prepared sheep manure is an excellent 
dressing. As it has been sterilized by dry- 
ing and rendered odorless, there are not the 
objections to it that there might be to or- 
dinary manure. Its one drawback is ex- 
pensiveness. 
To Protect Worn Places. — If there are 
any parts of the lawn which will be 
tramped over when they are not frozen, 
and especially when snow is melting there, 
these parts should be protected to prevent 
persons from cutting across. Tramping on 
the turf when it is covered by slush or 
snow is as destructive to a lawn as almost 
anything else. 
It is hardly necessary to say that nothing 
will be gained by scattering grass seed on 
the lawn at this season. 
PARK INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND FORMED 
In October there was formed at a meet- 
ing in Hartford, Conn., a new organiza- 
tion known as the Park Institute of New 
England, an educational organization hav- 
ing for its object to make an intimate 
study of park problems, through papers 
and discussion at frequent meetings. At 
the Hartford meeting eleven cities were 
represented by park officials from Boston, 
Providence, Worcester, Springfield, Hart- 
ford, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, 
Northampton, Holycke and Naugatuck. 
About three-fourths of the population that 
live in cities in New England were repre- 
sented at this time. 
An interesting paper on ‘‘Municipal 
Dancing” was read by Superintendent Ladd, 
of the Springfield, Mass., park system, and 
G. M. Headle presented an able address, 
“Tree Walks and Talks in Hartford Parks,” 
a new feature of Hartford park work con- 
ducted by Mr. Headle last year. 
The next meeting will probably be held 
about the middle of December, and it is 
hoped that all the cities of New England 
will have a representative present. 
The following memorandum of the for- 
mation, officially adopted at the first meet- 
ing, explains the purpose of the organiza- 
tion : 
PARK INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND. 
Memorandum of Its Formation. 
We. citizens and officials of the different cities 
ef New England, interested in municipal parks and 
playgrounds, and desirous of making available to 
each of us and the public such knowledge and ex- 
perience, arising from the methods and manage- 
ment of parks and playgrounds by cities, in order 
that they may give increased opportunity for the 
growth and development of children and young 
people, and add to the comfort and happiness of 
grownups, do agree to form ourselves into a Park 
Institute for New England and to abide by the 
following conditions: 
1. One member shall have entire charge of the 
affairs of the Institute, to be known as its man- 
ager, who may make assessments as needed, ar- 
range for meetings, and do whatsoever work as in 
his judgment is necessary. He is to serve without 
compensation, and for one year or until his suc- 
cessor is chosen, to be elected at the first meeting 
held after the first of January each year. 
2. There may be six meetings each year to con- 
sist of addresses, papers, these and discussions 
which may be typewritten and sent to each mem- 
ber as requested. 
3. Candidates for membership to be proposed by 
any member, the vote being taken by letter, three 
negatives to reject. Each member at the first 
meeting to prepare a thesis upon some subject of 
his own choosing. 
4. Each member agrees to prepare papers and 
addresses on any topic that may be assigned to 
him by the manager, or to lead or take part in 
the discussion, to serve on committees of investiga- 
tion or other matters as the manager may direct. 
5. The manager may drop from the role those 
members who fail to attend three consecutive 
meetings. 
6. As the purpose of these gatherings is for 
the serious consideration and formulation of the 
work and service of parks and playgrounds, all 
social affairs and banquets are to be discouraged 
and not to prevail until after the meeting for the 
presentation of subjects and their discussion have 
adjourned. 
George LI. Hollister, superintendent of 
Keney Park, Hartford, Conn., was elected 
manager of the Institute. His address is 
272 Westland street, Hartford, Conn. 
Mr. Hollister is from old New England 
stock, a graduate of the Connecticut Agri- 
cultural College in 1902, where lie remained 
for two. years as an assistant professor of 
horticulture. Then for three years he was 
assistant entomologist for the Connecticut 
Agricultural Experiment Station, among 
other duties having direct charge of the 
gypsy moth work. Four years ago he was 
appointed foreman of Keney Park and has 
been its superintendent for the last two 
years, in which position he has been emi- 
nently successful. Mr. Hollister is a voung- 
man with a bright future before him, a 
most faithful worker and a diligent student, 
and is regarded as an ideal man to direct 
the fortunes of the Park Institute of New 
England. 
The Institute is open to all who are in- 
terested in municipal park work, whether 
park officials or not, and it is hoped all in- 
terested will write to. Mr. Hollister for the 
program of the next meeting and make it a 
point to attend. 
