Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-17
ArIDOr Day.

Gov. Pingree has done good thing in is
suing his Arbor.day proclamation. His &C
ton shows a degree of independence, and OF
willingness to assume a responsibility, which
we like, and at the same time II indicates a
correct appreciation of what the times de-
mand The idea Of an Arbor day originated
in the treeless states Of the great West.
Twelve years ego the governor Of Nebraska
issued the FIRST Arbor. day proclamation, and
it is estimated that on the day which be thus
named no less than twelve million trees were
panted-a number which seems incredible.
How the Arbor.day thought has grown, and
what its material results have been, is told
in paragraph printed elsewhere.
The outcome Of the establishment and OBJ
servance of an annual Atbor day in Vermont
should, and we believe will, lie in two direc-
tions-toward the aesthetic or ornamental and
the practical. In every village and rural
neighborhood there are rosdsides to be plant
ed with trees, and public grounds which need
their friendly shelter. The school yard wants
a few trees set within its borders, and the
more uninviting the spot the more 1t needs
them The grounds about the village church
would be greatly improved if half-dozen
trees were put a growing there. The ceme-
terry paths especially need this sort Of orna-
mentation, and If the village is 80 fortunate
as to have an open square or common it
can only be made thing either of beauty or
Of utility by planting it with trees. What,
for instance, would induce the dwellers in the
pretty village of Newfane TO part with the
trees which make it's common shade from
the sun and delight to the eyes2 Last of all,
but really most important of all, there are
the grounds about the house TO be set with
trees. The chances are that they have been
long neglected, but it is time that new leaf
was turned over, and here the useful may
well Join hands with the ornamental.
1t is too much to expect that the work Of
practical tree-planting will be taken up in ear
nest in Vermont until the public mind has
been more fully educated on this point than
has yet been done. BY practical" tree
planting we mean the planting of trees in
considerable tracts, to be grown and realized
upon as is done with any other crop. All
over the state there are great spaces of DESC
late open country, which we're robbed OF
their real value the day the original forest
was relentlessly cut and burned of them and
they were left naked, to parch in the sun and
have their thin layer of soil blown away by
the wind. Plenty of such tracts there are
which are not worth cultivation in the usua
way and which yield but scanty pasturage
but which could be given large value for the
future by planting or sowing with trees o.
varieties judiciously chosen. The trees are
needed for timber, and in fifty years from
now a good sugar orchard will be Just as val
liable an adjunct of every farm as it is TO
day. In this direction lies one of the com
ing reforms in our Vermont farming methods
We do not look to see the establishment o.
an Arbor day set everybody at once to plant
ing trees. Probably Gov. Pingree does no
expect to see the state Immediately converted
into forest by means of his proclamation
But all the same it will make beginning il
the right direction. 1t will do much to es
tsblish and encourage a sentiment for tree
planting. We trust public-spirited men ant
women in every town and school-district viii
see that something is done about it. Tn
governors day is well chosen. The May-day
sentiment fits in with and will sensibly hell
along the Arbor- day sentiment. The schoo
children should be encouraged to take hold o
the work, and il in every or any communit.
the day can be made the occasion of a gene
raj tree planting frolic and out door festival
so much the better.