PARK AND CEMETERY. 
19 
organization whose object is the preservation and 
creation of out-of-door beauty. Vines and shrubbery 
equally enhance the appearance of Protestant and 
Catholic churches, of Republican and Democratic 
headquarters, of Masonic and Odd P'ellows halls. 
The homes of the poor, the rich, the believer and 
the unbeliever — all are the better for a vine-covered 
porch and a grassy lawn with flanking masses of 
shrubbery; and every street looks the better for 
neat sidewalks, well kept driveways and overarching 
shade trees. 
As to objects, it is wise to begin modestly, 
then, as strength and numbers increase, gradually 
widen the scope and extend the work. At no time 
undertake too much. What is done should be well 
done. The aims of established organizations range 
from having weeds cut to having waterworks built 
and parks made. 
They paint telephone poles, and protect natural 
scenery and wild birds. They erect drinking foun- 
tains for dogs, horses and men. They form chil- 
dren’s street-cleaning leagues, distribute flower 
seeds, improve cemeteries and railway station 
grounds, transform local dumping grounds into bits 
of refreshing greenery, establish free libraries, and, 
in short, tackle anything their hands find to do and 
do it with a will. 
And the best advice we have to offer new 
societies is to go and do likewise, for all such work 
is distinctly the province and, indeed, the raison 
d'etre of improvement associations. 
A civic organization of St. Paul, Minn., ladies 
met for business for the first time on March 9, witli 
some 300 women present, It was presided over by 
Mrs. Conde Hamlin, who conducted the proceedings 
with much executive tact, and the organization was 
launched under very promising auspices. Among 
the subjects of public interest touched upon during 
the meeting, and which demand attention were: 
The quality of illuminating gas; the Public Library, 
which is in poor condition; A Woman’s Reforma- 
tory, for which there is a crying need (and not only 
in St. Panl); and the question of Woman’s Repre- 
sentation on the School Board. Some idea of the 
work, conditions of membership and scope of the 
organization as given by the president is as follows: 
No limit as to members; it may include all the ladies 
even those whose interest is only sympathetic; the 
work to be done by committees as the exigencies 
demand; a committee is to be appointed to co-op- 
erate at once with the park board, the work to be 
planned during the summer and a report made in 
fall. The fees are placed at $i per annum. Meet- 
ings will be held every two weeks, on Thursdays. 
Quincy, 111 ., owes its park system to the well 
directed efforts of tl'.e Quincy Boulevard and Park 
Association, and on a recent circular issued by its 
president Mr. Pk J. Parker with a view of raising 
more funds for extension purposes, he says: 
“Quincy should continue to lead — as she now does 
all the cities of Illinois, except Chicago and Peoria, 
in Park improvements. We should also aim to make 
Quincy more and more attractive as a place of resi- 
dence, and as an educational center as well. Much 
of the indebtedness which Chicago and Peoria have 
incurred in purchasing park sites and improving 
them is in long time city bonds. It goes without 
saying that Quincy, with its present indebtedness, 
cannot create a bonded indebtedness for the pur- 
chase of parks or their improvement, but cities 
which are in a position to do so are growing much 
more rapidly than Quincy, and the assessed valua- 
tion of property is increasing by reason of such 
wise investments.” 
AN EXCELLENT FERTILIZER FOR NURSERIES. 
Acorrespondentin Chatham, Ont., has addressed 
us on the subject of a formula for making up a 
fertilizer adaptable to young trees, shrubs, vines, 
etc., and transplanted stock. The question was 
referred to Mr. Andrew H. Ward, an autho-iity on 
fertilizers, from whom we have received the accom- 
panying reply: 
“The following mixture contains nitrogen, 
phosphoric acid and soda alkali, and has proved 
destructive to all grubs and worms that either live 
in the ground or go into it in order to pass througli 
the proper state and come out as ful 1- fledged flies 
to work their devastation on fruit and foliage, and 
there lay their eggs for the perpetuation of their 
kind. P'ive hundred pounds quicklime, 200 pounds 
common salt, 300 pounds of powdered pho'^phate 
of lime, 100 pounds of nitrate of soda I'he 
quicklime should be slaked, the salt then mixed 
with it and allowetl to remain for some thirty (la)'S 
for chemical changes to take place, in the meantime 
being shoveled over three or four times to have it 
intimately mixed. 1 hen m x with it the powdered 
phosphate of lime and nitrate of S"da. 'I he com- 
pound is then ready for use and will cost about $8. 
Use 1 ,000 pounds of this compound per acre spread 
broadcast on the surface of the ground. It can be 
used on orchard, lawn, pasture and meadow in the 
same quantity. The use of this compound not only 
increases ihe quantiiy of the fruit but also gives the 
fruit a better flavor and larger size, and puts the 
tree in vigorous condition for future yield. The 
ingredients can all be easily procured in any quan- 
tity at market prices, and the mixing can be done 
on the farm. It does not deteriorate in quality by 
keeping.” 
