226 
PARK AND CEA\ETERY. 
Krameria, Securidaca, Oualea, Trigonia, Vochy- 
sea etc. are mostly tropical American genera, two 
or three of which are found along the Mexican bor- 
der within United States territory. It is quite 
true however that a very small bed will as a rule 
accomodate all of the plants of this alliance, even 
in our Botanical gardens. 
James Mac P/icrson. 
Ornamental Bedding for Small Cemeteries. 
The general appearance of the majority of vil- 
lage or rural cemeteries, could be vastly improved 
by the judicious forming, and planting, of ornamen- 
tal beds covered with vari-colored foliage. 
The near approach of summer should remind 
cemetery officials of the desirability of thus improv- 
ing their grounds. In most cemeteries there are 
vacant spaces upon the lawns reserved at the en- 
trance, and at the junction of roads which could be 
utilized for ornamental purposes, and give a pleas- 
ing appearance to the place. The beds can be made 
either triangular, round, oval or cresent shaped to 
conform to the shape of the lawn where the roads 
meet. 
Visitors to burial grounds expect everything to 
have a peaceful and subdued appearance. Even the 
ornamental beds are better appreciated when of 
sombre hue. Gaudily planted beds seem out of 
touch with the surroundings. Having this fact in 
mind, a cemetery man has not the large assort- 
ment and variety of bedding plants at his disposal 
for decoratives purposes, that can be seen in parks 
and other places of amusement, where everything 
indicates brightness and pleasure, probably there 
are few bedding plants more suited to cemetery 
decoration than dwarf cannas. The popularity of 
this class of plant has of late been marvelous, it be- 
ing onl}’ a few years since their introduction. And 
this popularity is yearly on the increase. They are 
easy of cultivation and the tubers if carefully stored 
during the winter, can be used again the following 
summer. 
If the soil in the bed is slightly raised towards 
the middle a pleasing effect can be obtained, by 
planting cannas of different colored foliage in alter- 
nate rows. Say: The outer edge green, next row 
bronze, next green and so on. When placed in 
masses of either color, the effect is also beautiful. 
Caladium Esculeuntum is another most desirable 
plant for cemetery ornamentation, and is also easy 
of cultivation. One of the most harmonious com- 
binations can be had by planting the following: 
An outer edge of cineraria maritima (commonly 
known as Dusty Miller) with the next row Caladium 
then Cannas, cither in rows or mixed with two or 
three castor bean seeds dropped in the centre. The 
cannas and caladiums should be planted from nine 
to twelve inches apart, and will be much more satis- 
factory in every way if liberally supplied with 
water. A bed of this description is easily cared for, 
compared with other varieties of foliage plants; 
which is a great advantage where the services of a 
florist cannot be engaged. It is for such plans that 
this advice is designed. B. L. 
The Lucombe Oak. 
One of the attractions of Fairmount Bark, Phila- 
delphia, is the grove of oaks which it contains. 
Some of the specimens are natural growth, such as 
the alba, rubra, falcata, tinctoria, coccinia, obtusi- 
loba, bannisteria and prinus, all of which are found 
within its boundary. A great many others, native 
and foreign have been added, so that the collection 
to-day is a very large one. The Commissioners of 
the Park have kindly favored me with a photograph 
of one which is considered a beauty, and which 
we give a representation of here, Ouercus Robur 
Lucombeana, commonly called the up right E nglish 
Oak. But as idr. Charles 11. Miller, the landscape 
THE LUCOMBE OAK. 
gardener to the park, justly observes, it is a much 
prettier tree in many respects than pyramidalis or 
fastigiata, which is th.e one usually referred to as 
the upright Plnglish oak. Eucombeana, which keep- 
