PARK AND ce;me;te;r.y 
458 
be acceptable, and should be able, of course, to con- 
sider and advise as to choice of design in relation to 
the location and surroundings. Nothing is in poorer 
taste than a row of similar monuments, for it at once 
conveys the impression that some manufacturer’s 
agent has jumped the track and run in an order for 
a job lot of overstock designs to a few unsuspecting 
families, whom he had beguiled into the belief that 
they were getting big bargains in buying direct from 
the manufacturer. As was suggested, the local man 
can compete with the manufacturer by working out 
designs from the rough, and his strong hold in so 
doing will often be in the simplicity of the design. 
Not necessarily a plain slab, cube or shaft, but a de- 
sign of few pieces — a base and die. Second bases 
under small jobs are as objectionable as the overgrown 
rough bases that are used to bolster Smith’s job up 
two inches higher than Brown’s — for the same price. 
The dealer who continues to resort to this old practice 
should be starved out by any self-respecting com- 
munity. If a halt is not soon called we shall have no 
cemeteries — parks for the repose of the dead — but 
rather stoneyards of rubble stone and dilapidated, un- 
readable markers, to be measured by the perch and 
cord. 
Modest designs of a few graceful lines and simple 
inscriptions, deeply and neatly cut, are desirable, and 
by all means only one monument to a lot. This monu- 
ment should in every part, from the base up, be of the 
same material — that is, all granite, all marble, all 
lime or sandstone, if needs be, but by no means should 
either of the latter, as is so commonly done, be put 
under marble or granite. Bronze tablets on any of 
the above materials are quite proper, if well secured ; 
but above everything to be avoided is tracing on 
marble. If well defined carving cannot be afforded 
it is better to be content with the plain stone, even if 
rock-faced. A rough boulder of proper proportions 
and setting, with a polished face set in or out, and a 
little carving, or a metal tablet as above mentioned, 
are infinitely better in appearance than traced jobs. 
In suggesting these simple forms it is, of course, not 
intended to discourage as large and artistically 
wrought jobs as can be afforded, but rather to 
reduce to a minimum the number of conspicuously 
ill-designed jobs that occupy the greater portion of all 
country cemeteries. Local improvement societies, 
should take hold of and persistently follow up these 
matters. 
F. L. Knight. 
Iowa ParK and Forestry Association. 
The second annual meeting of the Iowa Park and 
Forestry Association was held in the State House at 
Des Moines December 8 and 9, 1902. 
The reports of the various officers and committees 
showed the association to be in a flourishing condi- 
tion. The committee on legislation was continued to 
frame a bill for the protection of forest and fruit trees, 
as the bill which was presented at the last session of 
the legislature was not satisfactory to all, and failed 
to pass at the last moment. Prof. T. H. MacBride of 
Iowa City was re-elected President of the association. 
He presented a report on the “Present Status of Parks 
in Iowa,” illustrated by lantern slides. Wesley Greene 
of Des Moines was elected Vice-President, and Prof. 
L. H. Pammel and Silas’ Wilson were re-elected re- 
spectively Secretary and Treasurer. 
“Our Wild Plants for Parks and Gardens” was the 
subject of a paper by Wesley Greene, Secretary of the 
Iowa State Horticultural Society. Mr. Greene took 
up the question from the standpoint of the commer- 
cial grower. Many of our wild plants are very de- 
sirable and should be used, but they need to be im- 
proved. The Golden Globe Rudbeckia is a most de- 
sirable plant, and shows what can be done. 
Mr. De La Sheldon spoke on “Civic Improvements 
for Small Cities.” The question of civic improvement 
is abroad everywhere in the land and all progressive 
citizens are alive to the importance of the subject. It 
adds to cities’ real worth and adds not only aesthetic 
pleasure but a self-satisfaction. 
Prof. A. T. Erwin of the Iowa State College spoke 
on evergreens for wind-breaks. It is important at this 
time to plant evergreens which are longer lived and 
more enduring. The Austrian pine is most valuable. 
Its life is double that of the Scotch. The Pinus scopu- 
lorum of the natives gives evidence of being a strong 
and hardy tree. The white pine is monarch of all of 
the pines. It is nowhere more exacting and requires, 
a soil which is neither too dry nor too wet. 
The other papers presented were as follows : “Den- 
dro-Chemistry,” Dr. J. B. Weems, Iowa State Col- 
lege; “Government Forest Planting in the Sandhills 
of Nebraska,” J. C. Blumer, Halsey, Neb.; “The 
Farmer’s Woodlot,” E. R. Hodson, Washington, D. 
C. ; “Beautifying and Utilizing Railroad Grounds,” 
E. E. Little, Ames; “City Parks,” J. T. D. Fulmer, 
Des Moines ; “Elms and Other Shade Trees,” A. Due- 
bendorfer, Ames; “Street Trees and Parking,” W. 
A. Burnap, Clear Lake; “Trees,” Cyrus A. Mosier,. 
Des Moines; “Iowa Oaks,” Prof. B. Shimek, Iowa 
City; “Some Diseases of Forest Trees in Iowa,” G. 
M. Lummis; “Progress of Forestry and the Work of 
the Bureau of Forestry in Iowa,” T. W. Mast, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 
