Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-07
A free planting Holiday.


Day. Governor Burieigh, in his ProcIama
ton ammo ncin2 the date, earnestly advises
that it be duly regarded By all ths
people ~ our State lin the planting
of trees, shrubs and vines. in the aiorumen
Of public and private grounds, not only 70,
the purpose Of besGtifying our villages
to~ns. parks and public ways, but also 70,
the eI courz cement Of forest culture and the
growth Of sood. AL timber wAich will be Of
inestimab's importance to the fertility, health
and future prosperity Of this 1ten.ive com
mons salth.'
words could hardly be framed in bette,
manner 10 express the spirit and pur.
poses Of the day. II Is true the observance
Of the dag commenced IN a treeless country.
The people Of picturesque Maine. with its
vast forests. its groye-capoed bills, its wealth
Of aboreal beauty by every rivers bank, and
it. city parks, town streets and home
lawns beantihed BY the presence of evergreen
and de .iduous trees, can hardly conceive the
bare, cherries, unloveiy appearance Of
county or State without trees. Yet
Eebra.ka. where the first arbor day was OBJ
served twenty years ago, was, almost, practi-
csily a State without tree. country Of
rolling prairie. wind-swept and sun-seorched,
il needed nothing 30 much as trees to render
where homes could be protected from the
blasts Of winter and the hot suns Of summer,
BY these most beautiful Of natures products
trees BY Legislative enactment Arbor
Day was established, and on its
first observance 100000 trees were planted
in a single day II now has more than
twelve millions Of trees that have been
planted by human hands. From the wind
swept prairie the State has been transformed
70 one Of groves, parks, forests. tree-lined
avenues and thousands Of shade-en-
closed homes The wealth, comfort
bealthf1lness and beauty of the State
has been transferred almost as il by magic
through the Planting Of trees
This example Of our western Sister ha.
bfFH dtypNfh ~ VI tht ibipb
States, each Of which sets apart day in
spring time for common tree planting
throughout the commonwealth. Not only the
tfceless prairie States but the forest crowned
States Of the middle the northern and eastern
portions Of our country unite in its observance.
New DIRK has its magnificent parks in almost
every city and town, its fine forests through
out The middle and southern portions of the
State and It's vast Adirondac wilderness and
yet on saturday last, when its first Arbor
Day was observed, every county in the State
was engaged in the work of planting trees, and
by so doing teaching the chill
dren to love Nature and reverence Natures
God The Governor mayors school officers
and town authorities engaged in this work,
out in public and private yards. Surely
there is as much reason for planting trees in
Maine as there is IN planting them in New
York In the countries of the old
world and in our own country expe-
renee has proved that trees are not only
sources Of wealth. but conservators of health,
objects Of beauty, and teachers of morality
refinement and affection. They make dear
the home they bcsutify the lawn and street,
they render sacred the cemetery, they add to
possessions. they promote the public econ
omy The state is poor without them but
rich with them. We can hardly have too
many
On "Wednesday next we hope to hear of
general work of tree planting from Fort
Kent to kitery F0reside. Upon school
grounds, college campus. city park and
street,h by the little grave in the csm 'aTy by
the Grange Hall, in the front yard of the
farm house. along the roa lsde. in sh ut all
over ths State, everywhere we want TO
hear Of trees being planted Plant for the
children, for the parents. au ia memory of
those who have gone b fore. Pan, for
teacher aud professor and pupil fI,ot for
the President. for the Governor for lhr CEN
fury of presi1euts Plan. to make homes
more beautiful, towns morr attractive. the
State more wealthy. Plant the oak, maple.
elm, mountain ash, larch beech horse chest
nut, white and yellow birch ash. arbor vita,
ir, spruce ard hemock. ST. out vines and
shrubs the Virginia creeper, rlemaus,
hone sQckle, and rhoiora Don't forget
e.ther. the roses aui other hosering plants.
1t there be carnival Of tree-planting.
Clean up the roadside and street. beautify
the home pmbellish the towns, villages and
cities. Give one day, or part of day, to
tis notle pubic work, thI' or third Arbor
bay be celebrated in accordance with its
spirit and intent.