The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-04-01


duty it is to look out for the permanent
welfare of the state. The fact that
there are in the state hundreds of thou
sands of acres of worn-out and practi-
cally valueless lands, has also been
subject of serious consideration, the
treatment of which directly, and per-
haps decsively, influences the ability
of the state to sustain its old prosperity
and to show some progress from dec
AIDE to decade. The appointment of a
forestry commission, the enactment of
some initiatory laws, some concerted
action with New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut, an awak-
ened interest among the farmers of the
state, the discussion of the subject at
the meetings of the Board of Agriculture
these are some of the effects Of the
brief period of agitation of the forestry
question in this state. The reckless
butchery of the forests, except by
straitened or improvident farmer or
lumberman here and there who has
only present mercenary interest in
the shaggy covering which is the sum-
mer glory of Vermont's picturesque
ranges of green hills, has, we hope,
been arrested. The problem to be
solved is what to do with the desert
areas denuded by the axe-men of a
former generation, and how to do it.
Related to this problem is the more
aesthetic matter of planting trees by
the sides of the shadeless streets, in the
public squares and around the dwellings
and school-houses of the villages. All
these matters, the preservation and
prudent husbandry of existing wood
lands, the rehabilitation of unsightly
stretches of rocky hillsides and briery
or brake-infested dells, the identifying
of towns and villages, contribute di-
rectly to the material wealth of the
state, and have their bearing upon the
moral qualities of the people. They
bring from the cities and hotter eli
mates of the South an increasing throng
of summer visitors, and they serve to
attach Vermonters to their homes.
The states through the North and
West and the Dominion of Canada
have recognized the Importance of
these considerations and taken active
measures, by various agencies, to give
them practical effect Arbor Day has
proved to be an effective agency in
several states. The American Forestry
Congress, an association including in
its organization men of Canada and the
United States, recently adopted the
following resolution: "In view of the
widespread results of the observance of
Arbor Day in many states, this congress
recommends the appointment of such a
day in all the states, and in the prov
inces of the Dominion of Canada" A
committee, of which B. G.. Northrop
LID, of Clinton, Connecticut, is
chairman, was appointed to secure the
general adoption of this plan, and es
pecially an Arbor Day in schools. AR
Dor Day originated with Ex-Governor
Morton of Nebraska. "By pen anG
tongue, with arguments from theory
and facts from his own practice" says
Mr.. Northrop, Mr.. Morton succeeded
in creating great popular interest il
this work" Twelve years ago he Sc
cured the cooperation of the state
Board of Agriculture and the governor
was induced to appoint the secont
Wednesday in April to be devoted tt
economic tree-planting. 1t is said thai
twelve million trees were planted or
that day. The interest has been sus
tanned and increased, and that state ha:
now nearly two hundred fifty Thousand
acres of cultivated woodland. Kansas
Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and In
diana are among the states which have
quite recently adopted this plan, Gov
ernor Porter of the latter state last yea
entering into the project with grea
enthusiasm. In an address to tn,
teachers and people of the state, he sait
that the appointed day would be
memorable one, and " the beginning o
a movement for much more EXTENDED
system of tree-culture and restoration
of the varieties of trees, useful ant
beautiful, which have been so reck
lessly sacrificed that nature cries alou'
for redress" He called on (" the teach
ers to do all in their power to max
Arbor Day day of the most arden
and inspiring interest" A portion o
Arbor Day in school is spent by tn
teachers in talks, and the scholars il
reading compositions and selection
upon trees, their proper care and use
the remainder of the day, in plantin
trees, shrubs and vines on school an
home grounds. We have no space t
enlarge upon the advantages and tn
benefits of an Arbor Day in school prop
erly observed They will suggest then
selves to the mind of any thinking be
ing. The subject of economic tree
planting should be studied by the stat