3^2 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
depression are some large dead oaks covered with 
Trumpet creeper, and towards them are grouped the 
larger trees. An outlying trio of these, standing at 
the bottom of the basin where moisture is retained 
longest, is composed of a Liquidamber, Swamp 
Maple and Scarlet Oak. They not only 
make a glorious bit of autumn color, but their se- 
lection and location are characteristic of the art dis- 
played in the designing and planting of the entire 
grounds as far as carried out. 
* * * 
The planting is strictly in harmony with Nature’s 
stamp on the ground. Nothing has been intro- 
duced that is so foreign looking in itself, nor in 
its manner of use, nor method of growing, as to 
make it seem out of place in a Kentucky landscape. 
The landscape is made, it is in reality artificial, but 
it is so well done as to seem natural — and that 
is Art. The requirements of a Cemetery are 
given proper consideration, yet the right of 
trees and shrubs to develop the kind of beauty that 
nature intended them to have is not infringed but 
encouraged. No tree is either dwarfed or deformed 
to make it fit a given location. On the contrary 
each one is selected because of its fitness in size, 
habit and appearance for the location to be planted 
— and that is not only art but common sense as well. 
Fitness, indeed, being the underlying principle of 
art, and the best guide to applied art. 
* * * 
Two broad sinks have been excavated for Lily 
ponds, and the contour of the surrounding ground 
brought into harmony with them, as can be plainly 
seen in the engraving showing the juncture between 
the old and new ground, the actual dividing line be- 
ing beyond the pond seen in the picture. In the 
vicinity of the water Japanese Irises, hardy orna- 
mental grasses and moisture-loving herbaceous 
plants and shrubs have already been introduced, 
and more are to follow. A fine example of this 
work being a wide, irregularly grouped field of 
Tritomas that had spread naturally in a moist, 
shaded locality and were a surprise in mid-October, 
flaming out through the grass. 
* * * 
Kentucky is noted for its fine trees, so it is 
natural that the Lexington Cemetery should be rich 
in them. But the native growth in the old grounds 
has been re-enforced by many that are suitable to 
the climate and location and in harmony with the 
landscape. So we find not only the Sugar Ma- 
ple, splendid in its rich October garment of crim- 
son and gold, and the Water Maple in vivid scarlet 
crimson dress, but the soft Maple, (which is not used 
near graves because of its enormous spread of sur- 
face roots), Wier’s Cut Leaf which is esteemed as 
one of the best, a couple of good specimens of the 
English Gooseberry leaved, and a number of fine 
Norway Maples. The blue, green and white Ashes, 
native to the region, and in addition the upright 
and weeping Mountain Ash and the English Ash. 
Besides the native trees there are seen in 
splendid form the Yellow Wood, American 
Holly, the best specimen being about 30 years 
old, twenty-five feet high and from fifteen to eighteen 
through and loaded with fruits; a Purple Beech 
that probably cannot be matched in the west being 
now thirty-nine feet high, thirty-eight feet across 
and branched close to the ground; a big Paulownia 
Imperialis between 25 and 30 years old, some very fine 
old Red Haws, large White Fringe trees that, with 
the Yellow Pines on the grounds, date from the days 
when mountaineers brought seedling trees and shrubs 
from the Kentucky Mountains and sold them in 
Lexington — ^the only nurserymen at that time 
in the State; several Magnolias, including M. 
grandiflora, which is, however, grown in shrub 
form by cutting back the main stem and allowing 
several shoots to grow up in a clump, as this form 
is better able to withstand the occasional severe 
winters; some very large Catalpas; Oriental Plane 
trees and others. 
» # jfe 
The fine old Burr Oaks that are scattered through 
the old ground give character to the Cemetery. Of 
four measured, none were less than five feet in diam- 
eter three feet above the ground, and several Elms 
tested were each from four to nearly five feet through. 
These great trees are the favorite resorts of the many 
gray squirrels that live happily in the grounds— no 
one being allowed to molest or make them afraid. 
The pretty little fellows are a charming adjunct to 
this sylvan retreat, which is also loved by the birds. 
* * ^ 
There are also splendid coniferous evergreens, 
including large old Yellow and White Pines (but 
the last, together with American Elms, suffer severely 
from the sleet storms that prevail here at certain 
seasons), Norway Spruces, among which are several 
of very large size, that are really beautiful, the 
first I have ever seen that deserve that much 
abused adjective, and I never expect to see any like 
them elsewhere. But Kentucky is a tree Paradise, 
and Mr. Bell is an expert grower, moreover he has 
such love and reverence for Nature that I’ve little 
doubt she lets him into valuable secrets that are un- 
written pages to others. The Hemlock Spruce is 
the best all round conifer for the location and there 
are specimens here that make one envious; the Ori- 
ental Spruce does well, also the White Spruce that 
is an excellent Cemetery tree wherever it thrives 
