Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-28

Arbor days are becoming very COM
mon In many of the States, the Cover
NOR in some of them appointing set
day on which all citizens are called
upon but not compelled to plant a
number oftrees along some public high
way or around some public buildings
or grounds. Governor PattisoR has
mp pointed April 10th as Pennsylvania
Ar Dor day. Delaware Governors never
seem to have caught on TO that idea yet.
Those who come from either Kent or
Sussex, OF even from the lower part of
New Castle County, having natural
forests all around them have never
thought Of the necessity Of the arbor
days.
1t is true that . tree planted on any
other day in the tree planting season
would grow just as well, but if there
were no.srbor day, people would not be
reminded Of the duty Of planting trees.
Were IL not for the proclamations OF
the President of the United States and
the Governors of States, the people
would forget In a great measure thanks
giving days, but these proclamations
keep the memory fresh, and suitable
preparations are accordingly made.
Arbor day might not become such a
day of feasting as thanksgi wing, but 1t
might become day of infinitely more
utility and pleasure. Nothing could be
more delightful than for all the fami-
lies in Delaware to turn out on a set
day and engage in tree planting, along
the exposed highways Of the State.
Many of these roads lay bare and open
to wind and sun. There is nothing to
break the winters storm nor to shelter
from the summers scorching sun. II
people who had farms would make a
habit on n Dor day of planting only one
shade tree for each member of theil
family, the face Of the country would
in few years undergo great change
In family OF six children, this would
amount TO sixty trees in ten years, and
II every family in the State outside o
the cities, who own farms would carr!
out this beautiful idea of arbor day, i
would result in planting thirty thou
sand trees at least.
The Philadelphia Ledger in com
mending Governor Pattison's appoint
ment of arbor day, says it has in it
trees, who for fifty years or more los
no opportunity to plant good shade o
fruit trees along public roads or arount
schools, wherever he thought the.
would be useful. In addition to worl
done on his own farmhe planted durin
his life time, hundreds OF trees for tn
pu bic good, that now afford fruit {
shade or both TO the lrising generation
What he did in small way can
done with much better effect If schoo
can be enlisted In the work and taugl
to respect and care for trees.
If Governor Stockley's. attention ha
pens to be called to this matter, '
would remind him that it is not t
late yet 10 name an arbor day for Del
ware. 1t would be something new al
novel in our State and would be the
duction of a custom in which we
lieve the people of the State general
would take delight Delaware, thou
next to the smallest State in the Uni
in territory, can be transformed grad
ally by the planting of shade tr'
along public highways into beautii
landscape and instead of the hot, dusl
parched, roads we now have, We "
have pleasant shaded roads and gro'
that will afford substance and refrel
ment to both man and beast. If CT
nor Stockiey will but inaugurste arl
day in Delaware, he will be kindly
membered and blessed by generate
sc. unborn.