PARK AND CEMETERY 
and Landscape Gardening. 
VOL. X. Chicago, October, 1900. NO. 8 
CONTENTS. 
EDITORIAL — The Springfield, O., Convention of Improve- 
ment Associations— Cemetery Reforms — Preservation 
of Public Monuments — Another Improvement Agency 
The Care of School Grounds — The Fall Arbor Day — 
Art Out-of-Doors 173, 174 
^Monument to Gov. John S. Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Minn. 175 
*The r.se of Shrubs in Cemeteries 176 
Sea.sonable Suggestions 179 
*Elmagnus ■ 180 
Angles and Inclined Planes in Highways 182 
Flowering Trees for Ornamental Plantir g, 1 183 
■'The Wall Vaults, Paco Cemetery, Manilla 1S4 
Improvement A.ssociations 185 
Coal Cinder Walks and Paths 186 
*Garden Plants — Their Geography, LVIII 187 
^Modern Drives for Cemeteries 190 
Correspondence — Hardy Azaleas — Monuments in Ceme- 
teries 191 
Legal 192 
Park Notes ^93 
Cemetery Notes I 94 
Selected Notes and Extracts I 95 
Reviews of Books, Reports, etc 196 
* Illustraied. 
NATIONAL LEAiGUE A convention of Improvement 
OF IMPROVEMENT Associations for the purpose of 
ASSOCIATIONS - . 1 • „ 
forming a national organization 
was held at Springfield, O., October 10 ii. The 
number in attendance was not large as is usually 
the case at the opening meeting of such a project, 
but several prominent devotees in the cause of art 
out-of-doors and village and town improvement 
were present to set the work in motion, and con- 
siderable well directed enthusiasm distinguished 
the proceedings. Springfield improved the oppor- 
tunity to show its hospitable side and the guests 
were entertained very cordially and pleasantly. 
The meeting resulted in the appointment of com- 
mittees to continue the work and the framing and 
passage of a constitution and by-laws. The con- 
stitution decides the name to be “The National 
League of Improvement Associations,” and its ob- 
ject “to bring into communication for acquaintance 
and mutual helpfulness all organizations. interested 
in the promotion of out-door art, public beauty, 
town, village and neighborhood improvement.” 
The following officers were elected: President, 
Jonn L. Zimmerman, Springfield, O.; ist Vice- 
president, Edwin L. Shuey, Dayton, O.; 2nd Vice- 
president, Mrs. Conde Hamlin, St. Paul, Minn.; 
Recording Secretary, E. G. Routzan, Dayton, O.; 
Corresponding Secretary, D. J. Thomas, Spring- 
field, O.; Treasurer, Frank Chapin Bray, Cleve- 
land, O.; Organizer, Miss Jessie M. Good, Spring- 
field, O. It was decided to establish the head- 
quarters in Springfield, O. At a mass meeting 
held in the City Hall on the evening of Octo- 
ber 10, one of the principal features was an address 
by Prof. Zueblin of the University of Chicago. 
CEMETERY It will doubtless have been observed 
REFORM. report of the Cleveland Conven- 
tion of the Association of Cemetery Superintend- 
ents that the spirit of reform in many lines of cem- 
etery practice dominated the gathering. And yet 
with this spirit permeating the minds of the pro- 
gressive members, as it has done since its influence 
was first felt, reform has been comparatively slow. 
This is easily explained. Perhaps in no other fea- 
ture of human progress, have the methods and 
customs relating to the disposal of the dead been 
less encroached upon by current movements, and it 
has only been when conditions demanded ehange 
that the conservatism attaching to the cemetery or 
burial ground has been forced to yield. This con- 
servatism, which on the part of lot- owners even 
now is the most difficult task cemetery officials have 
to deal with, has the unfortunate tendency of drift- 
ing into apathy, resulting in the neglect so gener- 
ally encountered, especially in the smaller places. 
Respect and veneration for old time customs is a 
good foundation upon w'hich to build reform when 
it is properly practiced, but when it results in neg- 
lect it is a force that must be diverted into more 
useful channels and this can only be done by con- 
tinued educational effort. 
PRESERVATION The preservation of public monu- 
ments, which means of course such 
monuments as have historical or 
local interest worthy of the distinction of being 
preserved, is a matter of great importance every- 
where. It was broadly emphasized in a paper 
read at the recent congress of architects held in 
Paris, wherein Herr Borstedt related that the Ger- 
man historical and archaeological societies last year 
adopted joint resolutions on the subject. These 
resolutions provided that no fixed monument of 
artistic or historic interest over which the public 
has any claim should be interfered with for any 
purpose nor in any way, nor left to decay, even 
without the consent of the authority charged with 
its control. The same view was expressed in re- 
gard to movable objects having public interest 
