PARK AND CEMETERY 
325 
Prizes as an incentive to the improvement of home 
grounds appear to have become an efficient means and 
are growing more and more popular among improve- 
ment workers and organizations. The Galesburg 
(111.) Improvement Society announces a series of sev- 
enteen prizes, most of them being for beds of annuals 
and tender bedding plants. This is far better than not 
offering prizes at all, but all who are interested in the 
advancement of art in outdoor surroundings are 
watching and hoping for something still better from 
the men and women who are interesting themselves in 
improvement work. It is greatly to be wished that 
such organizations shall become the leaven from which 
N a clearer understanding of outdoor art, as exemplified 
by the work of landscape gardeners of the highest 
grade, shall be diffused. The standard of the leading 
landscape gardeners should be their standard. It is 
by a study of the best paintings, statuary and buildings 
that education in such things is brought about, and 
this rule is quite as applicable to the art that has to do 
with fitting every piece of ground for the purpose for 
which it is intended. No one should be expected to 
know good art in the treatment of ground without 
training for it any more than the best paintings shall 
be appreciated by the untrained mind and eye. The 
leading improvement organizations of this country 
came into existence for the direct purpose of giving 
such training through their annual meetings, and 
through the preparation and distribution of literature 
containing suggestions, helpful hints and definite di- 
rections for the assistance of smaller societies and of 
individuals. The best way to secure all of this aid in 
producing something really worth while in outdoor 
adornment is to join one of the national organizations 
of this class — such as the American Park and Outdoor 
Art Association, its Women’s Auxiliary, or the Ameri- 
can League for Civic Improvement. Outdoor artists of 
more than national reputation are the leading minds 
in these organizations, and they are conducted in the 
interest of all who wish to learn. Where so much 
thought, time, energy and money are to be expended 
it is certainly unfortunate that anything but the best 
standards should be the goal aimed for. Especially 
when it costs so little to learn what is worth striving 
to attain. It costs but two dollars a year to belong to 
the American Park and Outdoor Art Association, and 
membership insures enough printed matter to set every 
improvement worker in the United States on the right 
track, besides securing the privilege of attending the 
annual meeting, which in itself should prove a price- 
less boon to every intelligent officer or member of im- 
provement societies. 
However, to return to the Galesburg prize list, it 
is pleasant and satisfactory to find that a step to a 
higher plane is provided for by the first and tenth 
prizes on the list, viz., for the best ornamented and 
most attractive block and for the best kept and best 
ornamented school grounds. That gives an opportu- 
nity, if any see and seize it, to develop something of a 
higher grade than unrelated flower beds. Perhaps 
someone will attempt a real shrubbery border or a per- 
ennial border. Something indicating a constructive 
design as a basis of the work. Vines and shrubs used 
for a purpose. Something permanent. Permanent ef- 
fects should have their place when improvement soci- 
ety prize lists are made up. 
* ^ jK 
Citizens of Methuen, Mass., are interesting them- 
selves in improvement work. Early in the spring an 
illustrated lecture on the Improvement of Home 
Grounds and Roadsides was given in the town with 
the result of stirring up a marked degree of enthusi- 
asm. Stereopticon views showing what had been 
accomplished in and about the city of Worcester made 
a deep impression. All who take the slightest inter- 
est in the possibilities of country roads will appreciate 
the conclusion reached in the following words : “Well 
kept and well protected shade trees should everywhere 
be a part of the good roads movement. A good road 
unprotected from the sun furnishes the traveler only 
half the comfort to which he is entitled.” 
J}: * >j« 
The Helena (Montana) Improvement Society, 
though young, is evidently imbued with the true west- 
ern “get there” spirit, and during the first two years 
of its existence accomplished as much as the majority 
of such organizatians manage to get through in twice 
the time. It was at the outset decided to devote the 
larger share, of energy and of funds to doing one thing 
thoroughly and, because of its prominent location near 
the center of the best residence district of the west 
matters and because of their unflagging efficiency 
when once they understand theii own position and the 
possibilities. Their aid is especially invoked in super- 
vising the enforcement of the laws regulating the 
throwing of ashes, waste paper and other rubbish in 
alleys. Another practical move of the promising 
Moline League has been the distribution of flower 
seeds at wholesale prices. 
Citizens of Kingston, Ontario (Canada), have 
come to the conclusion that the city’s front doors are 
not as attractive as they should be and in calling atten- 
tion to the matter it is noted that the status and 
quality of improvement work in the United States, as 
set forth in Park and Cemetery and Landscape Gar- 
dening, is cited as an incentive to action. A strong 
point is justly made of the commercial value of munici- 
pal art. Specific instances of this value are mentioned, 
including the Perugini frescoes of Perugia, Italy, 
which have become the only and entirely adequate 
source of income of its citizens since the com- 
mercial importance of the place long ago 
dwindled to nothing; and that the vast sums 
