PARK AND CEMETERY 
268 
POPPIES IN DECORATIVE ART. 
The poppy in relief is one of the earliest exam- 
ples of the use of nature in decorative art. It has 
been prized in its symbolical adaption to sculpture 
and carving since Lorenzo Ghiberti, of the famous 
Italian Renaissance school, made use of it in 
designing the gates of the baptistry in Florence. 
His poppies in bronze formed the chief feature of 
the flower groups bordering the celebrated door- 
ways, and drew forth the admiration of even the 
competing sculptors. 
POPPIES, THE SYMBOL OF SLEEP. 
Poppies are the symbol of sleep, and are valued 
in monumental and ecclesiastical art both for this 
reason, and for their adaptability to a great variet}^ 
of ornamental treatment. As the symbol of sleep 
they have a double significance. Some varieties 
yield opium, and have other peculiar narcotic 
properties, while their drooping buds and dreamy 
foliage, are admirably suggestive of restful sleep. 
The Latin name of the common variety, found in 
abundance in California and the South, is Papaver 
somniferum — sleep-producing poppy. In a boldly 
carved border or frieze they form a pleasing acce.s- 
sory to any subject pertaining to sleep. 
PLANTING PLAN FOR CEMETERY PLOT. 
In response to an inquiry from Mr. A. P. Hors- 
man, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, concerning im- 
provements for a cemetery plot twenty-four feet 
square, on the side of a hill, the following plan is 
suggested : The planting material selected is hardy 
as far north as Lake Athabasca, except the Berberis 
and Spiriea Van Houttei. ‘ I am not sure if these 
are hardy at Calgary, but perhaps some other 
shrubbery will do equally as well. If elm does not 
attain large dimensions, I should plant a canoe 
birch and have one moved to the place designated 
at least one foot in diameter or more. This should 
be as fine a tree as can be found. The wild flowers 
in front of it, the weeping juniper and the Kalmias 
will not alone form a pretty foot cover for the 
monument, but also add a picturesque effect to the 
foreground of the shrubbery. The grave might be 
covered with violets or creeping vines, and should 
be leveled with the ground. I have used Iceland 
poppies as a foreground to the low juniper, and 
these may be extended over part of the grave. If 
the weeping ash should not be hardy, any other 
weeping or low-growing tree will do. One large 
tree on the plat is all there is room for, and the 
planting of any more would result in overcrowding. 
The planting plan in detail, as shown by the ac- 
companying diagram, is as follows; l, Elm or 
Birch; 2, Amelanchier alnifolia; 3, Betula humilis; 
4, wild native flowers; 5, monument; 6, Kalmia 
glauca; 7. Spiraea opulifolia, or Rubus nutkanus; 
8, Juniperus com. var. procumbens ; 9, Spiraea Tor- 
reyi; 10, Spiraea Van Houttei; ii, Juniperus com. 
var. alpina ; 12, weeping ash, or any other weeping 
tree of medium growth; 13, Berberis. James Jensen. 
