Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-25
A NATIONAL ARBOR-Diy

A NATIONAL ARBOR-DAy.
Many of the Western States have ins,itut.
Ell an Arbor-Day, upon which it becomes
the patriotic duty of every citizen, and
especial privilege aud duty of all the stu.
dents and school children il the State, TO
plant at least one tree as contribution tn
the beauty, health and safety of their COM
monwealth. Arbor. day in Indiana occurred
on Monday, April IA, and was observed with
appropriate exercises throughout the State.
All the schools were given a holiday. and
were invited, in an address from the COVER
nor to spend the day in beautifying the
school and public grounds by the planting of
trees and shubbcry aud the cultivation of
flowers. To make the occasion more de,
lighttul and more memorable, the children
were asked to name each tree planted for
teacher, author, friend or benefactor. Tins
endearng each and rendering it in some
sense sacred. In h:a address to tn, schDo,
children, Governor Porter said:
There arc no days to which the mind
more often reCurs than to ones school DAYS
ana everything should be done TO make these
memories pleasant. A recollection of school
grounds well shaded and adorned with flow
CTS, planted and nurtWGd by children ard
teachers'-oi school-gFounds pointed to with
PRIDE Tor their ias'.:i's-.,oe and beauty. -
would be one or the most pleasant remrm.
braces of life. The secret of the trupst
happiness is found in working for the enjoy.
ment OF others, and tree planting is peculiar
ly such work. To feel that long years
after we have nurtured the young plant.
DINERS Will be refreshed by its grateful shade
ana admire lis beauty, would always he
pleasant reflection. The planting and watch.
ing the growth and development of trees
and flowers cultivates love of nature, a
source OF the most exquisite delights"
We wish this custom of an annual arb0r.
day could be made national New jersey
is now the only one of the Atlantic States
we believe, which has made any organized
effort to promote the culture of forests. A
law passed by the New Jersey Legislature
last winter provides for lree-planting dav,
to be observed in substantially the same way
as it is in the Western States. But no other
Eastern State so far rs we know has any
provision on its statue books touching this
matter Spasmodlc aud local eff Irts were
made in some portions of New England we
believe, to establish such custom, but moth.
ing which is likely to be permanent or of
general vallc. Thus, the little town of
Westford in Chittcndcn county, this State.
has provid. for an annual arbor day, and
deserves the utmost ere lit for So dJinr,
but, aside from the good iuflu nee of such
an example, the State reaps no ma.
terial benefit from it, What ongb,
to be done by the press and tie people Of
the whole country is, to aglatc
the matter of uniform day for tree
planting throughout the nation. Forest.
culture is receiving the attention If the leaf
ing minds in the country, and the universal
verdict is that the matter is of the utmost
Importance, and has been neglected too long
already. No product is of more value to the
country than its timber. 1t is used in n
thousand different ways and any falling off
in the supply would create greater c1n>tcrna-
ton than the failing of almost any other
staple article. We have been most prodral
in the use of our timber supply, because il
has seemed so cXhaustless but now that our
forests are melting away, aud no Others
spring up to take their places, we begin to
realize what might be the consequences if
this wholesale destruction shall go on for a
few generations longer We have no ii hit
to rob those who come after us of any Of the
advantages aud resources of his goodly land,
but our policy with resp; ct to the forests of
the country would seem to tend toward such
a result.
Besides hcing of the greatest value, to the
nation, our forests are the products which it
takes us longest TO renew So that if the
supply is once exhausted, it will be many
years before 1t can possibly BE- restored.
This consi eration should have the create st
weight in discussing the matter of forest
culture, The destruction Of timber which
is now gcipg on will not b. felt until some
time comparatively remltr, hat When
once felt it can not be rene lied for an equal
ly lorg time. We do not realize 10y actual
experience the need of tree-planting car
ried ON simultaneously with the destruction
of our forests, hut little consideration will
show us the importance of such policy.
Perhaps, however, the most telling argu-
ment in favor Of forest culture is that which
is now impclling some of our Western States
to frame statues in its behalf. Nature evil
denlty intended to protect the face of the
country with a due proportion OF forest
land. Wherever this propo ton has been
interfered with by the greed or foolishness
of man, disastrous results have been the con
sequence. Flood and drought have scoureed
those sections Of our land which have been
Iobbed of their natural protection. Aud yet
the destruction has gone on until in many
portions of the Western and Middle States
scarcely grove is to be seen for miles and
miles Nature revenges this interference
WITT her plan by terrible foo5s and long
seasons Of intolerable drought. At last the