Mount Auburn Cemetery

39

Sept. 28^th [18]80

Miss M.S. Shattuck

Dear Madam

On the receipt of your note of the 24^th Sept. I went to your lot to examine its condition. I find that the soil is poor and that the shade from the two large trees added to that of the fence and headstones is too much altogether for good grass. The roots of the tree are all through the lot, and draw out the nourishment before the grass & myrtle can get it. By digging the lot now, removing the roots and putting in plenty of good soil, the lot would be put in good order for a while, but the roots would soon fill it up again & then the grass & myrtle would grow poor. As this would be a large expense, I should not advise it, if you are willing to wait for the grass seed that has been put in to grow. This requires frequent rain. The lot has been seeded twice, but the season has been a particularly hard one on account of the great dryness.

On the Baxter lot a much larger amount of money has been expended, the lot having been resodded several times, and being free from very much shade, so that it ought to look better. Our men have been to your lot & cut what

seen it in so shabby a condition as I found it this afternoon_ This too, after a complaint of the condition in which I found it in the early summer_

Wishing to compare this treatment, with the Corporation's care, of my aunt's_ ( Miss Baxter_ ) lot in the same Avenue_ I found that in good condition, and well cared for_

I would like to know,

definitely - that if in order to have the lot properly cared for, it is [underlined] necessary that it should be taken out of the care of the Corporation, and given to some other person --

M.S. Shattuck