Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-20
Educational.


Is. g. Northrop of Connecticut, the able
Secretary OF the Board OF Education OF
that state. Offers the following timely re-
mark. on Centennial Tree Planting. and
they Will be found as pertinc,t in Maine a,
in Connecticut. Not only does the Secre-
tary by torciole words and thoughts plead
for his cause, but IS will be seen he offers
10 the youth OF his State. liberal prize to
promote the good work:
American History, too much neglected in
our schools, should now enlist greater interest
and attention. These centennial anniversaries
aud celebrations can BE- made 10 foster his
toric spirit and give 10 this important study
greater NiSldnes>, and honor. and value. But
while studying the annals Of the past. our pu-
pi- should be encouraged 10 do something for
the future. There l. no better wsy TO honor the
heroes OF 1876 than by some good deeds whose
fruit mas survive 1876. one way in which any
boy may accomplish this result is By planting a
ilty elm or oak.
Tree-pauting is fitted 10 give lesson Of
forsthOught to the juvenile mind. Living solely
in the present and for the present, too many
youths viii sow, only where they can shortly
reap. meagre crop, soon in hand, outweigh.
4 golden harvest long in maturing. A. short
sightedness is the danger OF youth, they should
learn that forecasting the future is the coudi-
tion Of wisdom. Arboriculiure Is q discipline
IN foresight, for ii Is always planting for the
future and often for the distant future. To DO
something in thi, centennial year which NAV
live on 10 1876. will be . heAthful aspiration TO
any youth. Washington Irving well saws Of
tree-plsnting. There is grandeur OF thought
connected with this heroic line OF husbandry Il
j. worthy Of liberal and free-born and aspiring
men. He who plants an oak looks forw ard 70
future ages and plants for posteriiy. exuliing
in the idea that the acorn which he had buried
in the earth shall grow up into lofty pile and
shall keep on fourishing and increasing and
Increasing and benehtting mankind long after
he has ased 10 tread his paternal fields" II
would be grand achievement for this centen-
NAL year. If genuine interest in arboriculture
can be awakened in all our towns. To this end
our pupils should observe all the common trees
80 as readily 10 recognize the by any one Of
the six most distinctive IN ar&s. IL ht lessons
were early given on the varieties and value.
the beauty and grandeur Of our majestic trees
our youth could hardly fail TO admire and enjoy
them, and then 10 plant and protect them. The
planting of one hundred thou and trees BY the
wayside land that would be forty thousand
less than one for each pupil and teacherl would
ultimately make the roads and streets Of Con-
necticut by far the most beautiful in Anne ica
II private taste, public spirit town pride and
the sentiment Of patriotism 10 our State could
be duly enlisted in connection with the certain
y OF peccniary profit aud the manifold person
al advantage OF every citizen, our streets would
become bowers Of beauty and yerdure. Moth
Z ing can add so great 3 charm 10 our country
roads or village streets, as long and magnificent
avenues OF stately elms and naples. such a.
| may already be seen in many beautiful towns
in Connecticut. But there remains some des-
olate, neglected, repusive, leafess villsges
where taste and trees, and shrubbery, hedges,
/ creeping vines and park or green, would
make the wilderness Blossom as the rose.
! As a mere beginning in this direction. and
/ with the hope that others who can better az
| ford il will 90 far more, hereby offer 500 10
| encourage tree planting in Connecticut, 10 be
/ given under the following conditions. viz. one
dollar to any teacher or pupil in our schools,
public or private, who shall plant or cause TO
4 be planted five trees, each Got less than Line
4 feet in height, either elm, maple. ash. white
/ oak. or walnut, either on the school grounds or
| along any road or street. and who shall report
| said tree planting 10 me during the month Of
| April or before the tenth Of May, 1876. II any
| one complying with the above conditions should
| prefer as a keepsake my hook entitled ''Eju-
cation Abroad" copy Of the second edition of
that volume inscribed "A Prize for Tree Plant
| ing will be forwarded postage paid. The
/ prize will be awarded on the receipt of a GER
tifcate from any School Visitor that 1.-THE five
trees above described were all living August
first, 1876.
b. G. NORTHROP,
Secretary State Board Of Education.
NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, March p, 1876.