208 
"value to all cemetery officials that repetition should 
be pardonable and a reconsideration highly es- 
sential. 
For instance, the modern cemetery maintained 
■as a memorial park with its beautiful views and 
well kept lawns and drives has developed to such 
an extent and the knowledge required of the su- 
perintendent has broadened itself so extensively, 
that it has converted that office into a highly pro- 
fessional one. For that as the main reason it is 
essential that we should bear strongly in mind that 
the new, and especially the young members, par- 
ticularly those representing the smaller cemeteries, 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
ing in a little picture or a short note, or both, it 
will reach one, or perhaps many, who have the 
same problem to overcome and are laboring under 
great difficulties. Our medium will, in addition, 
become an encyclopedia and serve as a reference; 
something this Association has been striving to 
secure for many years past. 
In closing, I wish to extend to the members my 
most sincere thanks for the honor of serving them 
as President of this Association and I greatly ap- 
preciate the services of the officers and members 
of the various committees who have put forth 
their best efforts to make this meeting a success. 
pers by John Reid, supwiritendent of Mt. 
Elliott and Mt. Olivet cemeteries, Detroit, 
Mich., who gave some very practical hints 
on our native shrubs and flowering plants, 
and Robinson Farmer, an expert account- 
ant of Columbus, O., who discussed very 
comprehensively the subject of “Cost Ac- 
counting and Care Funds.” Mr. Reid’s 
paper was as follows: 
l^ll 
ilr §Kjr '' 'm.R -al^l w 
■-Jill* ’Mil 
tfjL A* a 
tRJP J 
A * 
• WsFpr. 
MEMBERS OF A. A. C. S. AT CHAPEL IN LAKE 1 ? 
feel sensitive and are apt to be rather backward 
when they first attend our gatherings in quest of 
practical knowledge. It is quite true that many 
of the topics discussed are ofttimes in substance a 
repetition of what has been said before. I take 
this opportunity of appealing to our members of 
wide experience to be patient and forbearing, and 
strive to show their utmost interest in the pro- 
ceedings tending toward the advancement of their 
fellow-members and the welfare of their chosen 
profession. We must not lose sight of the fact 
that to make our meeting productive of good for 
many who must account for the time and expense 
incurred in attending, it is essential for the mem- 
bers of wide experience to share with those in 
quest of knowledge. 
It has been my aim during my term of office to 
extend our membership into as many cities as was 
possible with the assistance of our present mem- 
bers to whom communications were addressed, and 
I hope the result will prove satisfactory. Any 
new members I know will become valuable acquisi- 
tions and loyal to our cause after attending this 
meeting which I, with the co-operation of the 
other officers and committees, hope will be one 
of the most successful in the history of this or- 
ganization. 
Another suggestion which I would like to make 
and which should at this time have your careful 
consideration, is the question of electing your vice- 
president from the city in which the next conven- 
tion is to be held. This has been the practice of 
several organizations kindred to ours and has proven 
very successful. An executive in the convention 
•city not only concentrates the power of decision 
but facilitates the handling of many important 
matters necessary to the success of every meeting. 
In addition, it would no doubt aid in solving some 
of the most difficult problems and relieve an oc- 
casional embarrassing situation. By adopting such 
•definite policy, it is my opinion that improvement 
in the administration of affairs and numerous other 
benefits will be the result. 
Another matter to which I wish to direct your 
attention briefly and which no doubt will tend 
toward the source of much good, is the exchange 
of items of interest through the press. While I 
am pleased to say there has been a great improve- 
ment the past years, still there are many of us 
prone to lose sight of the fact that oftentimes ex- 
periments which we are conducting within our own 
grounds and the beneficial results we have obtained, 
are of vital interest to our fellow-members. WhTe 
it is quite true there are sometimes results ob- 
tained in our own locality which would not be 
successful under other conditions, nevertheless there 
are many of ns who would profit immensely by 
these experiences and it seems to me that publicity 
should be given all such matters. One might 
sometimes overcome a condition by means which 
to him might appear rather simple, but by send- 
Secretary-Treasurer Bellett Lawson, Jr., 
in his annual report showed a membership 
of 248. Sixteen members were added dur- 
ing the year, six were dropped for non- 
payment of dues, and there was one resig- 
nation and one death. Receipts, including 
cash on hand at last meeting, were 
$1,232.10; disbursements, $745.55. The re- 
port called attention to the fact that all of 
the members had not yet provided them- 
selves with the association button usually 
worn at conventions. The buttons are 
gold, finished in black enamel ; they bear 
the letters A. A. C. S. and the year of 
organization, 1887. They are furnished at 
actual cost, $1.15. 
The automobile ride in the afternoon 
took the visitors over a portion of the 
beautiful park and boulevard system of 
the city of Minneapolis and through Hill- 
side and Crystal Lake cemeteries. 
The evening session was devoted to pa- 
MEMORIAL SERVICES AT GRAVE OF 
LATE SUPERINTENDENT, JOHN M. 
BOXELL. AT OAKLAND CEMETERY, 
ST. PAUL. 
NOTES ON USEFUL NATIVE AND 
OTHER ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 
APPARENTLY OVERLOOKED. 
By John Reid, Superintendent, Mt. Elliott 
and Mt. Olivet Cemeteries, Detroit. 
At the Milwaukee Convention I suggested that 
members write short papers on the most useful 
trees and plants of the various kinds in their 
grounds, their failure as well as their success 
with them, as we can learn a great deal by dis- 
covering the cause of a failure. I believe this 
would be an incentive to greater interest in the 
judicious embellishment of the grounds in our 
charge. Those principles will be strictly adhered 
to in this paper. 
There is no reason why our cemeteries should 
not be up to the standard of keeping of the parks 
in our vicinity, at least in beautiful shrubbery and 
hardy flowering plants. No doubt the park men 
have the advantage in so far as they can reserve 
beautiful open lawns, while the cemetery man 
with similar beautiful open space in a short time* 
finds the view obstructed by meaningless chunks 
of granite and marble requiring a good deal of 
skill and patience to make it attractive. 
It’s true that we miss in our annual visit to 
cemeteries many native trees, plants, shrubs and 
vines and yet few of them are excelled by later 
importation. I have noted a few of those things 
including some imported with which you are all 
well acquainted and I believe you will agree, that 
we should see more of them in our travels. What 
have we more beautiful than our native Amelan- 
ehier, known as service berry, juneberrj r , etc. Its 
beautiful racemes of white lace-like flowers, pro- 
duced in abundance about the same time as the 
foliage, adding to the beauty and delicacy of both. 
This small tree, or large shrub, is one of the first 
to flower in spring. Indigenous in many locations 
and it deserves a place in our collection. 
The Cornus family (Dogwoods) is truly prolific 
in useful shrubs and small trees. Cornus Florida 
is one of the earliest to brighten up our woods 
and shrubbery borders in spring with a profusion 
of large white star-shaped flowers, the foliage in 
fall turning to various tints, from pink to scarlet. 
Its fruit is orange scarlet in clusters on the tips 
of the branches. Few things are more attractive 
for our use. This is not used as much as it de- 
serves. 
Where a bank of foliage is required few things 
will fill the bill better than the dogwoods, particu- 
larly Cornus Mas, (Cornelian Cherry) a thrifty 
shrub of good foliage and excellent when in fruit, 
which is of orange scarlet tint and produced in 
abundance. Few ornamentals are as good for our 
use, yet it is seldom seen. Cornus panicnlata, a 
graceful twiggie- shrub bearing a profusion of 
