St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-04-23
Arbor Day Proclamation.
May Day Set Apart in Vermont for Plant
ing Trees.

May Day Set Apart in Vermont for Plant
ing Trees.
Jock, when we haze naething else to do. We may
| be sticking in a tree; il will be growing, Jock
when yere sleeping.-IIighland Laird of Scotland
To the people of Vermont The in
stitutiOn of arbOr day by executive
proclamation, based upon legislative
enactment or other rightful cOmpre-
hensiOn of the wants and needs of the
people, has already been set up in
many of the commemorative of the re-
public, and it is believed that every
remaining state and territory will soon
have snatched an annual day from the
calendar and dedicated it to the honor
ed observance of this day.
The love of VermonteIs for trees and
groves should show itself along every
thOrOughfare and wayside upon the
village green and city park around
the schOolhOuse and by the academy :;
the grounds of the home should be
tastefully adorned with the maple, the
oak and the elm, and thereby made
scenes of lOvelier memories the church
too, should be reached through their
pleasant and inspiring shades; and
the Goods acre" where we shall all
should not remain neglected of these
adOrnments of nature that form the
finest drapery that hallows the earth.
This sentiment is equally strong in
the minds of youth and age, with
women as well as with men. 1t is
economic in its practical results, in en-
HANGING the value of the farm, the viii
lage and the town; in augmenting the
1, = -,
setting them amid such scenes of taste
and lOveliness us will enchain the
memories OF our children to them to
their latest day.
To aid, therefore, in the systemat-
ic encouragement of tree planting
throughout our various communities
to awaken and develop among our
people, and especially in our youth, Il
taste for the study of nature and Il pur
pose to take delight and profit in an
important branch of agriculture to
render our homes more hOmelike and
attractive 10y the annual setting of
thousands of shade trees in every town;
and to- the end that the happiness and
comfort of our people in the years to
come be measurably increased, do
hereby designate and recommend that
Friday, the first day of May, A. ID.
1885, be observed as ArbOr Day, and
respectfully ask that it be made gen
eral holiday.
Aud | recommend that the people
of the state do, on that day, plant trees
along the streets, 10y the roadsides, in
parks and commons, around the pub
lie building, by their homes and in the
waste places.
Municipal and religious corporations,
societies for village and town improve
ment, school officers and teachers and
all who can plant tree can contribute
aid in carrying out the purpose of the
day which promises so important re-
suits in the near future.
Organizations and plans for the sys
tematic observance of the day should
be made beforehand by societies, as
sociations and schools, and the study
of the various trees and the details es-
sential to their safe transplantin g
should initiate the work, to make the
day one of ardent and inspiring inter
est and value.
Given under my hand and the state
seal, at Hartford, this sixth day of
April, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty
five.
SAMUEL +. PINGREE.
BY the Governor,
ALFRED f. WATSON, Secretary of Civil
and Military Affairs.