158 
F. B. Sercu, superintendent Pine Hill, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 
George E. Troup, superintendent Forest 
Lawn, Buffalo N. Y. 
George Moeller, superintendent Buffalo, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 
Charles A. Stuart, superintendent Morn- 
ingside, Syracuse,- N. Y. 
“Cemetery Accounting’’ was the subject 
of a paper by A. W. Hobert, of Minne- 
apolis. This will be published in Park and 
Cemetery next month. 
The remainder of the first day’s session 
was taken up with the question box. The 
first one was regarding death records. Mr. 
Gross said his cemetery formerly kept 
these, but they are now kept in the county 
recorder’s office. 
Next was in relation to free use of 
chapel. Several of those present said they 
allowed free use of chapel for funerals; 
others said they charged for use of organ ; 
others give free use to patrons of the 
cemetery, but charge a fee of $5 to all 
others; some charge $10, which is con- 
sidered the cost of decorating and care. 
Regarding the desirability of concrete 
enclosures, there was a diversity of opin- 
ion. Mr. Ross contended that they are 
not desirable. Mr. Lawson said there are 
certain cemeteries in the larger cities in 
which it is necessary to erect some sort of 
an enclosure that the people cannot climb 
over. He suggested a concrete enclosure 
with vines on the outside and shrubbery 
inside. He said they have been built for 
$1 per foot. They are laid out in panels, 
with posts eight feet apart. On each side 
of the post is a groove into which the 
panels are set. The posts are eight inches 
square and the panels three inches thick. 
Wednesday evening was given over to 
a theater party in which the entire conven- 
tion accepted the invitation of the Buffalo 
Steam Roller Co. to be its guests at Shea’s 
Theater. 
THE SECOND DAY. 
A 9 o’clock on Thursday morning the 
visitors assembled in front of the Statler 
and embarked in automobiles provided by 
public-spirited citizens of Buffalo. The en- 
tire day was spent in sightseeing at the 
various parks and cemeteries. The first 
stop was made at the South Park botanical 
gardens ; then to the various cemeteries in 
the Pine Plill district; then to Elm Lawn 
Cemetery, taking in the entire boulevard 
system, to Delaware Park, and winding up 
at Forest Lawn Cemetery, where lunch was 
served in a large tent. It was planned to 
have Prof. J. H. Cowell, director of the 
South Park Conservatory, deliver a paper 
upon the subject of “Trees and Shrubs for 
Cemetery Planting,” but he was unable to 
be present on account of an automobile ac- 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
cident. The paper will be published in the 
account of the proceedings. 
On Thursday evening the convention 
again assembled at the Statler and a very 
profitable evening was spent in discussion 
of various topics. Mr. Anderson extended 
an invitation for the association to meet 
in Portland, Ore., in 1915. 
Matthew P. Brazill read a paper entitled 
"Cemetery Roads,” which is published 
elsewhere in this issue, this was followed 
by a lengthy discussion upon the respective 
merits of tar and other road materials. 
Air. Ross said that the tar products are 
extremely reliable and that tarvia is giving 
great satisfaction. 
F. D. Willis, of St. Paul, read an inter- 
esting paper entitled " 1 he Rejuvenation 
of an Old Lawn.” The paper was as fol- 
lows : 
THE REJUVENATION OF AN OLD 
LAWN. 
By F. D. Willis. 
During more than twenty years the grass 
haa been ctoseiy shorn on the top of a 
graveiy Knon uunng which time there 
were no applications of nerpicide, vigorat 
or other aius to youth and beauty. The 
result was a profuse growth of oxalis and 
other acid plants with very little grass 
and no clover. 
When the breath of spring began to sug- 
gest the idea oi renewed life and youth 
oi nature, the first step in the. process of 
rejuvenation was taken. This consisted of 
the application of a coat about one-eighth 
of an inch m thickness or. ashes. Having 
no wood ashes, the product of bituminous 
coal, caret uiiy sifted to remove the clinker 
and cinder, was used. 
The second operation was the thorough 
combing of the surface with a fine steel 
rake to remove tne dead weeds and in- 
corporate the ashes with the soil. 
The ground was then seeded heavily with 
a lawn grass seed containing a liberal 
amount' of white clover, but no Herd's 
grass or timothy. 
A coating of rich soil about one-half 
inch in thickness was then spread on and 
carefully worked until smooth. 
The result: 
The spring rains induced a rapid growth 
of the grass before the weed seeds had 
time to get through the ashes. 
Four seasons later. This piece of lawn 
is still one of the best in more than forty 
acres. 
A vote of thanks was extended to Prof. 
Cowell for the interest he has taken and 
an expression of regret over the accident 
which made it impossible for him to be 
present. A vote of thanks was also ex- 
tended to Mr. Brazill and Mr. Willis for 
their papers. 
Mr. Jones referred to the bill to prevent 
cemeteries from interfering with outside 
gardeners. The bill was defeated in Penn- 
sylvania through the argument of Mr. 
Barnes against it. Mr. Jones read a copy 
of that argument. 
Mr. Grassau reported for the Committee 
on Badges, stating that they recommended 
the original emblem of the association in 
reduced size, to be made in solid gold. 
These can be secured for $1.11 each, and 
it was voted that the association purchase 
100, to be sold to members at cost. 
The following names were placed in nom- 
ination to be voted on the following day 
as officers for the ensuing year: Presi- 
dent, Matthew P. Brazill, St. Louis; vice- 
president, James Warren, Providence, R. 
1. ; Thomas Wallis, Chicago; M. H. Win- 
ters, Detroit; William Falconer, Pitts- 
burgh; secretary-treasurer, Bellett Law- 
son, Jr., Chicago. Executive Committee — 
W. B. Jones, Pittsburgh; W. H. Atkinson, 
Trenton, N. J.; C. P. Scott, Peoria, 111.; 
T. H. Little, Chicago ; F. R. Diering, 
Woodlawn, N. Y. ; A. R. Gross, Chicago; 
William Falconer, Pittsburgh. 
The question box discussion closed the 
evening program. The first was on the 
subject of opening graves; Mr. Clark said 
the uniform price is $7.00. Some charge 
double in winter. The question of how 
many cemeteries sell lots without the right 
to erect monuments was answered by Mr. 
Lawson, who said that many cemeteries 
do not allow monuments in lots of less 
than six graves capacity. Referring to the 
cost of placing myrtle or ivy on graves 
there were various charges. One at $5.00 
for planting and $5.00 for maintenance, 
another $12.00 for planting and $3.00 per 
year upwards. 
THE THIRD DAY. 
Friday, the last day of the convention, 
was taken up with a trip to Niagara Falls 
with the ride around the gorge and back 
to Victoria Park, where luncheon was 
served. After this a business session was 
held in an adjoining room. 
The following officers were elected : 
President — M. P. Brazill. 
Vice-President— Thos. Wallis. 
Secretary-Treasurer — Bellett Lawson, Jr. 
Executive Committee — F. R. Diering, W. 
PI. Atkinson, William Falconer. 
A. W. Hobert read a paper on “Endow- 
ment of Mausoleums From an Architect’s 
Standpoint.” This was in the form of a 
letter sent to Mr. Hobert from an archi- 
tect. 
A vote of thanks was extended Mr. 
Hobert and also to Rev. Dr. Campbell, the 
Hotel Statler, Buffalo Steam Roller Co., 
the Buffalo Committee, especially Mr. 
Werrick, the Ladies’ Auxiliary, the under- 
takers and others who furnished automo- 
biles. 
John Reid reported for the Committee on 
Location stating that invitations had been 
received from numerous places including 
St. Louis, Toronto, Florida and elsewhere. 
The committee recommended St. Louis as 
the next meeting place and the report was 
adopted. 
Mr. Benson extended a cordial invita- 
tion to meet in Miami, Florida, at some 
future date. 
Mr. Painter moved to increase the sal- 
ary of the secretary-treasurer to $200 from 
$175. Vote passed. 
