THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE VARIOUS CEMETERY CARETAKERS AND RECORD KEEPERS PROVED TO BE MOST ENLIGHTENING ON PROBLEMS THAT OFTEN HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH. WE WISH TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING TIPS THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY LOT OWNERS IN THE OLDER SECTIONS. 1. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE RESPECTIVE CEMETERY SECRETARY. AS A LOT OWNER OR FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE, YOU COULD PROVIDE WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR THE CARETAKERS TO DO NECESSARY WORK ON A LOT. THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES WHERE WELL TENDED PLANTINGS OF THE PAST HAVE GONE UNATTENDED AND NOW ENCROACH OR OBSCURE HEASTONES. ROSE AND LILAC BUSHES, AS WELL AS EVERGREEN TREES ARE THE MOST UNDESIRABLE. 2. WHEN PLANNING THE LANDSCAPING OF A LOT, CONSIDER THAT THE CEMETERIES IN ELLIS COUNTY ARE "PRAIRIE" CEMETERIES. GRASSES OTHER THAN NATIVE BUFFALO GRASS REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE. 3. CURBING AROUND A LOT IS SUBJECT TO MAJOR DAMAGE WHEN HEAVY EQUIPMENT IS TAKEN IN TO DIG GRAVE SITES,SET VAULTS OR PLACE STONES IN A NEARBY LOT. IN A FEW YEARS TIME CURBING WILL BE UNEVEN AND POSSIBLY GROUND LEVEL BY ERROSION. A SURFACE LEVEL BORDER IS BETTER, BUT WILL BE GROWN OVER BY GRASS IN A YEAR OF TWO. 4. ROCK BEDS ARE A CARETAKERS NIGHTMARE. THESE PRETTY WHITE ROCKS SEEM TO HAVE A WAY OF NOT STAYING WHERE THEY ARE PUT. WEEDS LOVE TO GROW IN THESE AREAS WHERE A MOWER CANNOT GO. 5. WHEN CONSIDERING A CHOICE OF HEADSTONES, TAKE NOTE OF THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF YOUR LOT. IS THERE SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR A LARGE STONE? LARGE STONES OFTEN HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER FOR THE LARGE EQUIPMENT TO GET IN. CONSIDER THE DEPTH OF THE LETTERING WHEN ORDERING A STONE. MANY STONES THAT WERE CUT IN THE EARLY 1900'S ARE OFTEN EASIER TO READ THAN NEW STONES. 6. WATER FROM SPRINKLERS DAMAGE HEADSTONES. RAIN WATER, WIND AND SAND DO ENOUGH DAMAGE. SEVERAL OF THE CEMETERIES HAVE WATER HYDRANTS AVAILABLE. THESE WERE INITIALLY INSTALLED FOR CONVENIENCE ON MEMORIAL DAY AND OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN WATER IS NEEDED.     THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. CONTACT THE RESPECTIVE SECRETARY OF THE CEMETERY OR THE ELLIS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LOT FOR EASIER MAINTENANCE.