Iron County register., 1888-03-29
AReoR DAY.

Friday, April 6, Set Apart as Arbor Day
for the State of Missouri-Susgestions i'm
Relation to Its Observance from Superin-
tendent of Education Coleman.
The 9Th day of April. 1888, has been
chosen as "Arbor Day" for the State of
Missouri, and it is the desire of this de.
partment to secure the cooperation of
the teachers. the children and the patrons
in an effort to adorn and beautify their
school grounds by assembling on that
day at their various school sites and de.
vote few hours to the work of tree.
planting.
The first 'Arbor Day" observed in this
State was in 1886 Both in 1886 and 1887
this day was observed by many districts
and the wisdom of their labors is now
manifest, as many nice groves are grow
ing upon sites that were bare and un-
slightly prior to such observance.
Ii this subject is properly represented
to the residents of the district by those
interested in the education of their chill
dren, every child will readily take part
in the enterprise. Let the children
plant and name their trees, and they
Will protect, guard and cultivate them
in the future. 1t may be argued
that it will simply be labor wasted, as the
teachers employed will not interest them
selves in this matter sufficiently to pro-
tect the grounds from jury. Such teach
ers should not be employed, for they are
not competent to instruct, govern and
train children; nothing more plainly
portrays the qualifications and taste Of
teacher than the condition of tho fenc.
ing, outhouses, trees and shrubbery on
the school grounds. The teacher who has
no taste in this direction is unfit to be
placed in charge of children.
Without discussing the matter further
believing all can understand and appre-
ciate the benefits to be derived from such
a movements plan of procedure is here
outlined for those who desire to encourage
the enterprise and assist in it's execution,
viz:
/. Select the trees to be planted, dig
them several days before hand so as to
have them ready; wrap the roots with
wet straw or leaves to keep the roots
moist; bind nicely with cord, and bury
the roots in a moist place and let th em re
main ntil you are ready to set them in
place.
2. Select nice, straight, smooth trees
from an inch to two inches in diameter;
trim them up seven feet high and top
them at that height; if any limbs are left
on the trees these should be clipped eight
or ten in ches from the trunk.
ne DSSt Trees 10 S6ieCI are Tie lOi'
lowing, in the order named: Linn, ash,
boxeIder, elm, hard maple, sycamore,
pecan. walnut, soft maple and evergreens.
4. All trees no v growing should be care.
fully trimmed by clipping the long limbs.
the struggling boughs, and giving the
tree a rounded, symmetrical top. The
boughs should not be allowed to droop or
grow downward so as to be in the way in
pa ssing between them. Keep the trees
trimmed in this way and it will never
become necessary to cut off large limbs;
bes ides, the trees will be much stronger
and less liable to be injured from wind
storms. 1t is just as necessary to care
for the growing trees as it is to plant new
ones.
8. Call the meeting to order at 80 p
m. April 6, and devote one hour to ''lit
erary exercises" which may consist O.
decamations, orations, essays, poems.
historical sketches of noted trees men,
toned in connection with our Nations
history. Each exercise should have di.
rect reference to the work in hand. If
the school is not In session, call meeting
about the first of April, at the school
house, and appoint committee to arrange
programme for the occasion.
6. Select some suit able person as fore
man; let him have the planning, plating
trees. A space should be left at the cen.
ter of each side of grounds. Plant the
trees about eight feet from the fence and
do not put them nearer the house than
twenty feet distant.
Z. After the planting has been COM
pleted the trees should be protected by
something to keep the stock off. if the
site is not fenced. Place straw, leaves or
trash around the trees to keep them moist
about the roots during the summer.
8. The teacher or district clerk will
please notify the county commissioner
what is done on this day, especially the
trees pl anted, as my next annual report
will enlbody this item, and they the
only parties who can furnish the desired
information.
9. If the school grounds are not inclosed
by a fence an effort should be made te
have the annual meeting provide for the
same by giving due notice and voting
levy for that purpose. (Section 7060.l
Hoping that all may aid in this move.
ment, and thereby improve the appear
ance of the houses and grounds used for
educational purposes throughout our
State, l remain, most respectfully, your
obedient servant w. E. COLEMAN.
IT