PARK AND CCA\CTERY 
399 
In many cemeteries roads can be found that 
have in their past been diverted from what was un- 
doubtedly their proper direction in order to spare 
the lives of forest trees, since dead. The roads 
appear as unsightly monuments of unskillful land- 
scape engineering. During the past summer, in 
constructing a new burial ground considerable tim- 
ber was interspersed throughout a valley where it 
was intended to run the main avenue. The Trustees 
were anxious to preserve these trees, and wished 
the roads to wind in and out, so as not to in- 
terfere with the trees, the removal of which, in their 
opinion, would spoil the beauty of the landscape. 
The proposed carriage ways were frequently staked 
out, but it was apparent to the most casual obser- 
ver that they were unsymmetrical. Some portions 
were too straight and turns sudden, to the dissatis- 
faction of all concerned. So the superintendent 
took matters into his own hands, laid out the roads 
where- they should be, irrespective of trees, and 
when they were completed was highly complimented 
upon the graceful curves. The remaining timber, 
though not so dense, stands out bolder, and the un- 
interrupted view of the avenues forming vistas, adds 
considerably to the beauty of the scenery. During 
the progress of the work, dire prophecies were 
uttered by a number of the older citizens who did 
not neglect to let the poor superintendent know 
their opinion, to his great discouragement. The 
“know alls” were in the majority. But after com- 
pletion it was astonishing the number of “I told 
you sos” that sprung into existence, leaving but a 
small portion of the credit to the superintendent. 
Indeed, the latter is getting to be a little doubtful 
whether the work emanated from his brain, or was 
performed upon the advice af his friends. 
By no means does the writer advocate the ruth- 
less removal of trees, but maintains that when it 
becomes a question of the “survival of the fittest” 
then a beautifully curved and graded road is the 
fittest. 
Another instance that came prominently under 
notice in years gone by, a grand old oak had inter- 
fered with the proper grading of the main drive to 
the cemetery. For years ithad obstructed a perfect 
view along the road. In order to respect this 
monarch of the forest, a sharp rise in the grade of 
15 feet in 300 was required with a corresponding 
dip on the reverse side. To have dared mention 
cutting down this venerable tree would have been 
deemed next to sacrilege. The sudden rise in 
the road did not affect riders in vehicles, and of 
course the poor horses could not feel it, and it was 
so pleasant upon hot days to pull up under the 
shade of the wide spreading branches and cool oft. 
But with the advent of the bicycle, riders of the 
wheel heartily condemned such a sudden ascent 
which required the efforts of the strongest to sur- 
mount. The majority had to dismount and foot it. 
Then but few admired that beautiful tree. It was 
voted a regular nuisance. Whether Dame Nature 
heeded the maledictions of the wheelers or not is 
difficult to say; but one night a moderate cyclone 
swept along the road and twisted off the oak close 
to the ground ; singular to say, the only tree in the 
locality to suffer, but the heart was decayed nearly 
throughout. When the debris had been cleared away 
and the crest of the knoll cut off, the improvement was 
marked, giving a commanding view of the road for 
some distance. Some ill natured persons'unkindly 
hinted that the superintendent had something to do 
with working up that cyclone. But perish the 
thought. Cemetery superintendents are not as a 
rule, thin skinned, consequently the remarks of ri- 
ders in vehicles did not affect this one. “Woodman 
spare that tree” is beautiful in sentiment but when 
cemetery officials have to do with cold blooded 
matters of fact, good and well laid out avenues are 
imperative. B L. 
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. 
The hanging gardens of Babylon and the walls 
of that famous city, two of the seven wonders of the 
ancient world, were the work of Nebuchadnezzar, 
the “builder king” of the “queen of nations,” who 
is said to have rebuilt or repaired nearly every city 
and temple throughout Babylon. These gardens 
he built to delight his Median queen, Amytis, to 
whom the flat plains of Babylon were monotonous 
and who longed for the mountainous scenery of her 
native land. They covered a square, each side of 
which measured 40O feet, and were arranged in a 
series of terraces, four in number, rising one above 
another in graceful lines from the banks of the Eu- 
phrates to the summit. The ascent from terrace to 
terrace was by steps and the terraces were supported 
by pillars upon which were laid flat stones, and upon 
these stones a waterproof covering, over which earth 
was placed in sufficient quantities to provide for the 
roots of trees and shrubs planted there and watered 
by means of small conduits connected with a reser- 
voir on the upper terrace. Every kind of tree and 
plant that could give pleasure by its beauty or 
fruit was brought from Persia, Armenia, Greece, 
Egypt and India. Within the terraces were magnifi- 
cent apartments and banqueting rooms, with walls 
of glazed brick, colored blue, red and yellow, and 
amid the groves were fountains and seats. 
fF. H. M. 
Go, make thy garden fair as thou canst, 
Thou workest never alone, 
I'erchance he whose plot is next to thine 
Will see it and mend his own. 
Robert Collyer. 
