FARK AND CEMETERY. 
263 
(Cercis Canadensis) combined with our 
beautiful Dogwood (Cornus Florida), Al- 
ders, Spireas, Forsythia, Suspensa, Cornus 
Alba and Sanguinea, and preferably some of 
our native species. Also some of our na- 
tive Swamp Button Bush (Cephalanthus 
Occidentalis) and the large White Umbels 
of the American Elder (Sambucus Cana- 
densis) always love to reflect themselves 
on the water’s edge. Along the lower 
banks and margins the growth of small 
plants, especially Herbaceous Perennials, 
should be encouraged, and, if possible, 
there is nothing so effective as permit- 
ting nature to follow her own course in 
clothing the borders, and we will soon see 
our water line decorated with some of the 
moisture-loving species of the Goldenrod 
(Solidago) or colonies of the Brook Sun- 
flower (Bidens Laevis), and in the fall the 
myriads of flowers of our native Asters, 
together with the Eupatoriums, and many 
others. Also let us make special efforts to 
introduce the spring flowering Marsh Mari- 
gold (Caltha Palustris) and the Scarlet 
Flowers of Lobelia Cardinalis, and, least 
of all, great clumps of the Marsh Mallow 
(Hibiscus Moschaetus). The various or- 
namental grasses such as Arundo Donax, 
Eulalias, Erianthus and sages are always 
indispensable in the planter’s mind. Among 
aquatic and bog plants we are fortunate 
again in simply accepting that which boun- 
tiful Dame Nature is offering us right 
here at home, without compelling us to use 
the many and very beautiful exotic water 
plants. Along the margins in shallow wa- 
ter let us establish the always interesting 
Arrowhead (Sagittaria Latifolia), else- 
where a few plants of the common Cat 
Tail (Typha Latifolia) and the Bulrusn 
(Scirpus Lacustris), which will soon pro- 
duce colonies of their own, also the bright 
purplish blue flowers of the Pickerel Weed 
(Pontederia Cordata) and the Forget-me- 
not (Myosotis Palustris) are always a 
charm along the water’s edge. 
In the coves of our lakes let us set our 
Pond Lily jewels, without which half our 
efforts to embellish our lakes and ponds 
would be in vain. The queen of our native 
aquatic plants is 'beyond doubt (Nymphea 
Odorata) with her pure white flowers, also 
her near relative (N. Odorata Rosea) 
with its beautiful deep pink and fragrant 
flowers. Many other hardy varieties and 
improvements of Nympheas have been pro- 
duced, such as N. Richardsonii with im- 
mense white flowers, N. Robinsoni of ex- 
quisite shade of orange red, and the fine 
family of N. Marliacea, etc. Doubtless the 
most striking of all water plants are the 
Lotuses (Nelumbium Speciosum), Noth- 
ing helps more to accentuate points in the 
scenery of our lake or pond than these re- 
markable plants. Their large, rotund leaves 
are put in motion at the slightest touch of 
the breeze, which themselves are again sur- 
rounded by their great rosebud-like flowers 
nodding lazily upon their smooth, long 
stems. 
Deep interest and admiration are awak- 
ened at once in the eyes of our visitor in 
the cemetery if his path should lead him 
by the borders of our pond, and who 
knows, this single moment possibly was 
sufficient to divert his troubled mind and 
to dispel his thoughts of the shadows of 
Death, and our visitor goes away with a 
picture of beauty, harmony and peace im- 
pressed upon his mind, which more than 
compensates us for our humble endeavors 
to make the cemetery ever a place of at- 
tractiveness and a joy for the living. 
WATER VIEW, GRACELAND CEMETERY, CHICAGO. 
RECREATION WORK PROBLEMS OF TARK BOARDS 
An address before the San Francisco Convention of Park Superin- 
tendents, by Theodore Wirth, Superintendent of Parks, Minneapolis. 
The recreation work which park admin- 
istrations of today are conducting has 
brought with it a number of problems 
which for many, and probably all of us, 
are difficult to solve. To bring about the 
acquisition of lands for desirable park 
playgrounds and their improvement and 
equipment seems comparatively easy com- 
pared w'ith the question of securing the 
necessary means for their proper and ef- 
ficient maintenance, in order to meet the 
constantly stimulated and ever-increasing 
demand for all kinds of service. 
To make our park possessions the recre- 
ation grounds of our people, in the fullest 
sense of the word, is the aim of all pro- 
pressive park administrations of today. The 
public deriving the benefit from parks and 
playgrounds, generally speaking, is willing 
to pay for the cost of the acquisition, im- 
provement and maintenance. 
Recreation, if I understand the meaning 
of the word, means many things. It means 
the refreshment of strength and spirit after 
toil in the pursuit of our daily vocations. 
It means diversion, amusement and exer- 
cise of one kind or another. It means 
rest, relief, relaxation, regeneration. Rec- 
reation to some of us is one thing; to 
others it is something else; and we park 
builders and supervisors have it within our 
power to provide it all. It is our duty to 
see that we do not wdllingly, or even un- 
knowingly, discriminate in favor of one to 
the detriment of the other. 
We all know that the playground move- 
ment, as most of us call it, has made tre- 
mendous progress in the last ten years, and 
I have often felt of late that, in our aim 
and zeal to satisfy the demands of the 
people, and our own ambition to lead, we 
are possibly over-reaching in some in- 
stances the real needs in that direction, and 
may be using for these purposes an unfair 
proportion of the limited means at our dis- 
posal to the neglect of other things perhaps 
fully as important. We are apt to overdo 
r .ome special features and lose sight of 
others equally deserving of merit. Let us 
not forget that exercise and play are only 
