Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-16


and surroundings; the nature OF various
woods and their practical and ornamental
uses, and generally create a thirst for use
full knowledge and love for close obserya-
ton that, as Dr. Hough puts it, will ripen
| into the best of fluits In the planting OF
trees by children, under proper tutorshlp,
they are taught something of the art OF
| forestry, which has attained such perfec-
ton in Germany. We teach them some
thing of the area of woodland; the con-
snmntioD of wood for domestic uses; IN
what manufactures it is most used, and
hog: something of the numbering indus
try and its Importance; the decrease and
increase of wooded lands; the effect OF
tree growth upon the salubrity OF sections;
the relation of forest growth to floods and
the navigability of rivers; what is its re-
Iation TO crops and the certainty OF yield
etc. Indeed, the subject Is one OF exceed
ing wide scope. and yet one in which the
Youngest scholar may be interested with
out lessening his interest in his usual
school studies. There is also very much
in the matter to address the fancy and to
appeal to the sentimental, since the world
of poetry is rich in its devotion to the
grandeur beauty and worth of forests and
trees, ana the pamphlet before us gives ex-
ample5 culled from the best Ameri-
lean and English poets and essayists.
A good many States have Arbor
Days-1ays upon which the whole people
are invoked to give a certain portion Of
time to planting trees upon the highways
and public walks and drives. On these
days a general holiday Is taken, under
proclamation by the Governor. There are
fag-raisings, professions and merry-mak-
ing in which whole groves are planted and
named, orations are pronounced, songs
sung, ard public lessons in forestry given
The first Arbor Day il Ohio was In No
vember, 1881, and at single gathering
near Cincinnati no less than $4,000 people
assembled in holiday attire and engaged 10
the beautiful ceremonies of the occasion.
On the second Ohio Arbor Day i 900 Gin
cinnati school children took part and one
of the leading journals of that city declared
that it was the most animating sight ever
brought before the eyes Of Cincinnatians.
On these two occasions the first memorial
groves" ever planted in America were set
out and dedicated to the memory OF patri-
otic Americans Of historic fame-as Wash
ington. Knox, Greene Wayne, Putnam,
Scott, Warren, Pulaski, Stark, Gates and
other distinguished patriots. These cere-
monies were conducted upon the principle
expressed in the German proverb, that
" What you would have appear in ma
TONS life you must introduce into the
public schools" In Ohio the people have
awakened to full realization of the causes
which have worked such wonderful changes
in the southern section OF that State, that
is no longer the great fruit country 1t was
formerly known to be; that has changed
the climate from eQuability TO one most
variable that has rendered floods and
droughts imminent, and lesaened greatly
the assurance Of crops. Deforesting the
country has brought about these things,
and Ohio is now earnestly engaged in re-
storing original forest conditions. Ohio
once possessed an unfailing supply Of black
walnut there is now scarcely 4 firstclass
walnut tree III the State. Between 1888 and
1870 an area equal TO one-sixth Of the
State was cleared. What is true Of Ohio
is true in greater or less degree Of other
States. Forestry is now subject Of matter
Of great interest to the major portion of
them. New York. for instance, is deeply |
agitated upon the subject, and has already |
taken radical action. Wisconsin, Indiana |
Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania
have awakened to its importance. Cali
fornia has thus far felt small need for ac-
ton, but there Is reason to believe that |
before many years We shall have our Arbor
Days, and be actively engaged in interest
ing the youth Of the State in this import
ant and agreeable suhject, and imprcssing
upon them the truth uttered by Oliver
Wendell Holmes; When we plant a tree
We are doing what We can to make our
planet more wholesome and happier
dwelling place for those who come after Us,
if not for ourselves"