PARK AND CE/nCTCRY 
413 
Microbes in Graves. 
The imaginative danger of spreading contagious 
diseases by germs in the earth, which is claimed by 
supporters of cremation cannot be proven, as has 
already been shown by Petri, Loesner publishes 
in Medicmi Moderni, bacteriological experiments 
which prove assertions of Petri. According to this 
authority: Typhoid bacillus is lifeless in 96 days; 
the cholera bacillus as quickly as 28 days and the 
tubercular bacillus in 95 days. 
Friedlander’s Pneumo bacillus was lifeless, in 28 
days, while Tetanus bacillus was still in full vigor 
in 234 days, but found lifeless in 364 days. Splenic 
Fever bacillus seems to have the greatest vigor be- 
ing found full of life after one year. 
The usual earth filling of a grave forms a safe 
barrier against the penetrating of the bacillus; they 
thrive only for a short time in the corpse; traces of 
them could not even be detected in the earth below 
the grave bottom. — Translated from the German. 
':^l©orfe^porielence.l^ 
An Excellent Suggestion. 
Trenton, N. J. Dec. 26, 1896. 
Editor Park and Cemetery. 
Dear Sir: I should like to stir up the park superinten- 
dents to contribute of their knowledge to your columns more 
frequently. I should think that they would desire their exper- 
ience recorded in such a magazine. Many excellent gardeners 
and other superintendents feel some shyness about writing, I 
know, yet. they are well aware that they have features in trees 
and plants well worth notice. If any such will send me photos 
of unusually fine named specimens, that I can use, especially 
from the extreme zones of cultivation, — north, south, or west 
to the Pacific, I will try to give standard names, and credit them 
to the senders, in my regular senes of papers (if appropriate) or 
in separate ones. Anything not already figured will be accep- 
table. Notes as to age, height, spread, time of flowering, ex- 
tremes of temperature where growing, and so on would be use- 
ful to record. There are so many amateur photographers now- 
ad.iys, that it is possible to collect instructive data in a manner 
never before attainable, and there is no more worthy receptacle 
for such data than Park and Cemetery, none that will set it 
up in better style. 1 would like to extend this invitation to the 
nurserymen and florists of the south and the Pacific coast. Those 
of the north, and the very select best of them too, already use 
and appreciate your journal as it deserves. 
James MacPJierson. 
Boston, Mass., December 26, i8y6. 
Editor Park and Cemetery. 
Dear Sir: — In your issue of December, 1896, one of your 
correspondents would like to hear if anyone “has addressed him- 
self to the harmonious composition of the trees and shrubs and 
herbs of a botanic garden with a view to embellishing the 
ground.” If your correspondent will examine the plans and the 
grounds of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N. Y.; the Arnold Arbore- 
tum, Boston, Mass.; the shrub collection at Highland Park, 
Rochester, N. Y.; the Botanic Gardens of South Park, Buffalo, 
N. Y.; the plans of Cherokee Park, Louisville, Ky.; the Bilt- 
more Arboretum at Biltmore, N. C., and the grounds of Smith 
College, Northampton, Mass., all of which were designed by the 
firm of which Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted is at the head, he 
will find that provisions have been made for collections of trees, 
shrubs, and in some cases herbs, arranged with their botanical 
relationship so far as this would not interfere with their value as 
an element of landscape. I knowhow thoroughly and carefully 
these matters were considered by Mr. Olmsted and other mem- 
bers of the firm, for it was my privilege while in their office to 
work out the details of all but the first two of these undertakings 
under their direction. Yours very truly, 
Warteii H. Manning. 
A subscriber asks, “if a cemetery corporation has the power 
to tax private lots; by state laws cemeteries are exempt from 
taxation as far as I know.” 
[No. Taxing power is a function of government which can 
be delegated to, or exercised by, no private corporation. Whe- 
ther a state will tax, or exempt from taxation, cemetery prop- 
erty, is a question of public policy which each state decides for 
itself. And in New York it has been held that if there is to be 
any taxation at all, an incorporated cemetery association should 
be assessed, and not the individual owners of lots therein. Eds.] 
A Few Thoughts. 
LYNN, MASS., JANUARY, 1897. 
As I am sitting wrapped in thought on this beautiful winter 
day my mind wanders back to our convention at St. Louis. How 
could we have been better entertained? What more could have 
been done? I am sure no one expected so much. Brother Bra- 
zill is entitled to a vote of thanks, which he has already received; 
he has proved to be a man equal to any emergency. Long may 
he live to enjoy the position he now holds. President Creesy and 
myself had anticipated making one or two calls on our way 
home, but an unexpected telegram from home deprived me of 
that pleasure. My son was suffering from a severe illness, which 
looked against him when the telegram was sent, but I am happy 
to say he has nearly recovered his usual health. 
The papers read by those other than superintendents was “A 
Happy Thought,” and were veiy entertaining and instructive. It 
will be a pleasant feature at our next convention for every su- 
perintendent who cannot be present to write a letter to be read 
by the secretary. It will show that he still has an interest in the 
association. I hope this suggestion will be heeded, as it will add 
much to the interest of the occasion and keep us still near to- 
gether. 
We are now planning for our work in the spring, which will 
soon be here, when we shall find ourselves very busy. Our work 
will be all of the same nature. Many of us have improvements 
which we would like to make, but cannot for lack of funds; but 
there are many little improvements that can be made at small 
expense, which will be sure to be seen and appreciated by our 
jot owners. No standing still should be our watchword. Let us 
put our shoulders to the wheel and strive to do a little better this 
year than we did last. 
Our new president, I am sure, will not lack for support from 
the members. Let us do all we can to help him, and as I am 
only five miles from him, I hold myself in readiness to render 
him any assistance and to accompany him to our next conven- 
tion. 
Merry Christmas has come and gone, and I would wish all 
who may read these lines a happy new year. 
William Stone. 
Superintendent Pine Grove Cemetery. 
