August 9,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
119 
T O many the dawn of memory in childhood is associated with 
some plant, flower, or shrub, and by many the same means are 
employed as a tribute to the memory of departed friends. Though 
the subject may be, is, in fact, one of sentiment, it is one that age 
cannot wither nor custom stale, though Time has wrought changes 
more compatible with modern ideas. The older system in which the 
melancholy Cypress and somb"e Yew monopolised the tree or shrub 
planting of ancient graveyards, is one in which custom ordained that 
these grounds should bear a lugubrious aspect. Some examples in 
the expression of modern thought have attained the other extreme. 
In an extensive West of England cemetery the brilliant effect of a 
mass of beds at the principal entrance, filled with the most florid of 
summer bedders, savoured to me of a garishness not in keeping 
with its functions. The glaring effect was probably heightened by 
surrounding bareness. Trees and shrubs would have done much to 
tone down the barbaric splendour of colour. There is a beauty 
in the fitness of things to their purpose, be that purpose what 
it may. 
Indiscriminate planting by relatives in public cemeteries needs 
but a passing thought. If we do not at all times admire the means 
employed, there are reasons why they should be respected. Nor is 
this a matter of any magnitude. Each plot is small ; alas ! so small— 
6 feet of English earth or Irish sod, no more. Apart from this 
phase of the question there appears to me some room for improve¬ 
ment, more perhaps a matter for the controlling powers than for 
individual movement. It is that those suggestive mounds might 
be abolished and a simple rectangular formation of the graves take 
their place. This by a level surface would give facilities for plant¬ 
ing and keeping which the prevailing system does not. A raised 
verge of grass neatly trimmed is a simple and effective border, but 
doubtless in our much-resorted-to public cemeteries something more 
durable and requiring less attention would be preferable. This 
might be done with metal frames of a few inches in depth ; pins or 
feet at each corner for inserting in the soil would give stability and 
prevent shifting. I am aware of the difficulties besetting the 
invasion of a long established custom, also of the delicacy of 
doing so in this case, yet the suggestion may commend itself 
in being conducive to that order and decorum so necessary to 
maintain ; by its simplicity and inexpensiveness, and being within 
the reach of many who cannot afford the more costly bordering 
of cut stone. 
Evergreens, now largely used, form, as they should do, the staple 
planting on the larger scale, but a judicious blending of those 
refined colours found in many of our deciduous flowering and foliage 
shrubs might, I think, be more generally employed, though these 
can only obtain their best effect where forethought has liberally 
provided room in the designing and laying out the ground. For 
the planting on the lesser scale—viz., the graves, we have an infinite 
variety from which a selection of the most appropriate can be made, 
but all cannot make that selection. What a boon it would be to 
many could they obtain practical aid and advice on the spot, also 
be supplied at a nominal cost with suitable plants from a reserve 
garden attached to a large cemetery. This plan would prevent 
those incongruities often noticeable. 
Memories of early days carry me back to a large London 
cemetery with its severely realistic associations, where the landscape 
No. 737,— VoL. XXTX., Third Series. 
gardener had not entered, and the crudest type of amateur 
gardening prevailed. Doubtless all is changed since then. We 
live in an age of change, with its tendency to move on. More 
pleasing recollections of after years was a visit to Newport 
Cemetery, Monmouthshire, which by its situation and tasteful 
disposition of the trees and shrubs gave the impression of being 
very beautiful. Others since visited in England and Ireland 
have given to a gardener’s eye something to admire and something 
to desire. 
The last seen, perhaps the least in point of size, is my beau 
ideal of what God’s acre should be. It is the Convent cemetery of 
the Loretto Abbey, Kathfarnham, Co. Dublin. I could discourse 
at some length on the rather extensive, well stocked fruit and 
vegetable gardens, each quarter framed in borders of hardy flowers, 
but this is outside the present subject. The private cemetery is a 
garden within the garden. It appeared to be walled in, yet a 
profusion of Ivy and creepers in pendant luxuriance gracefully 
outlined the whole. With the exception of a massive Celtic cross to 
the memory of the Foundress, one saw but few reminders of the 
Destroying Angel’s presence. Low-placed metal memorials entwined 
with white Loses, now blooming profusely, inconspicuously marked 
each resting place. A continuous border of hardy flowers under 
the creeper-clad walls were of every conceivable shade of white. 
As seen here, that sameness one might expect from the use of white 
flowering plants only, did not obtain. With the trees, shrubs, and 
flowers Nature is allowed to have just so much of her own way as 
shows to her best advantage. Order without undue restraint gave 
the happiest effect. To me there was a beauty and appropriateness- 
not before observed in cemetery gardening. To Sister Evangelista, 
the lady who conducted us, there was a deeper meaning attached to 
many of these floral tributes—they bora the touch of vanished, 
hands, that had years ago brought many of the roots to this gardem 
in a garden.—E. K., Dublin. 
FERNS AND MOSSES FOR WINTER 
DECOEATIONS. 
No matter how great the resources of gardening establishmentti 
may be, or how vigorous the efforts put forth to maintain a stock 
of these useful materials, there is generally a scarcity of them 
during some part of the winter. This is not to be wondered at,, 
seeing the many forms of decorations which gardeners are now 
called upon to carry out, and in the majority of instances well- 
grown Ferns in small pots and rich cushion-like potsful of Mosses 
are of immense service in helping to give finish to decorative work. 
The present is an excellent time to set about the task of increasing 
the stock of both. If this is done at once, with good treatment 
they will be ready for use by November and December, a period 
during which they are in great request. 
Where the convenience of a fernery is at hand no difficulty will 
be experienced in obtaining many young seedlings. Ferns of 
all descriptions—Adiantums, Pterises of the serrulata and tremula 
types, Nephrodium molle, Nephrolepis tuberosa, and Lomaria 
gibba are some of the best for the purpose, because they grow 
quickly, and usually spring up in abundance under the stages, on 
walls, and upon the surface soil in which larger plants are growing. 
Even in those gardens which do not boast of the convenience of a 
fernery, numbers of young seedlings may usually be obtained from 
plant stoves and greenhouses. No matter from where obtained, so 
long as they are healthy, if given suitable treatment good progress 
will be made. 
The practice I adopt with these is to prepare a number of boxes 
for their reception ; these are usually about 3 inches in depth, an 
inch of finely broken crocks or coal ashes is placed in the bottom, 
and covered with rough leaf soil free from sticks. Over this comes 
an inch layer of prepared soil ; this consists of two parts peat, one 
No. 2393.—VoL. XCI., Old Series. 
