TREE PLANTING ON RURAL SCHOOL GROUNDS.
The neglected condition of the school ground has not remained without notice or without some effort towards improvement. The sentiment in favor of school ground comfort and adornment has gradually increased for the last thirty years, and has been greatly aided by the establishment of an annual Arbor Day for tree planting. Arbor Day was proposed by Hon. J. Sterling Morton, ex-Secretary of Agriculture, and was first observed in Nebraska, where it was officially recognized in 1872. It was first associated with school-ground planting in Cincinnati, in 1882, in connection with a meeting of the American Forestry Association. Since then it has been best known by its observance in the schools. All the States have followed the example of Nebraska in establishing Arbor Day, and the movement has now spread into many foreign countries. Great Britain, France, Spain, Japan, and New Zealand, all celebrate their Arbor Day.
METHOD OF CELEBRATING ARBOR DAY.—The governor of each State annually appoints Arbor Day at the proper season for planting. This day is celebrated in the schools by public exercises there is ordinarily more or less tree planting. Great care is taken to make the planting ceremonies impressive by letting the children take part, and by planting trees commemorative of noted persons or events. Much more attention is given to these matters than to having the trees in the best condition and to planting them just right.
As might have been expected, the results upon the school grounds have not been marked. Too often the work has been impulsive and the interest transient. Trees planted with ceremonious dignity in April have died of neglect before September, and those that survived have been left to fight unaided their battles for existence. So little attention has been paid to the choice of trees and to the methods of planting that those entirely unfit for the situation have often been used, and have been planted in places where they could not receive protection while young, or serve any useful purpose when grown. Arbor Day has often come on dry, windy days, or clear out of season for planting. Furthermore, the planting has been on too small a scale to be of great benefit. When an acre of trees in a solid block is needed, only half dozen specimens have been planted. After all that has been done, the school grounds are still largely unimproved.
NECESSITY FOR BETTER METHODS.—The needs of the school grounds is for plantations of hardy trees, cared for by such methods as will keep them constantly thrifty. The trees should be selected and planted in the most careful manner. They should be properly placed, and in sufficient number. To plant in this way requires a great deal of attention of details. It may be the work of several days. The perishable nature of trees also makes it extremely important to plant them when the weather conditions are just right. Dry, windy weather
