Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-03-21
ARROR DAY.

Friday. April 5, Designated by SuperiE-
tendent of Public Instruction Colman to
be Observed as Arbor Day by Public
Schools of Missouri - Suggestions foI
Teachers, Pupils and Patrons.
Hon. ". E. Colman has issued the sub
joined circular of suggestions and instruc-
tons to teachers, pupils and patrons of
the public schools Of Missouri for the
proper observance of Friday, April 5, as
~Arbor Day, to the end that the best and
most lasting results may be attained:
The above date has been designated by
this Department as "Arbor Day. for the
State Of Missouri; and it is the desire OF
your superintendent that the teachers, pu
pills and patrons may cooperate IN making
the day one of great benefit to the school
districts of this State, by endeavoring to
render their school yards more attractive.
On April 1G. 1886, the first Arbor Day
was observed in Missouri; two have been
observed since; in 1888, the day was OBJ
served by 400 school districts that re-
ported. and 9,.35 trees were planted,
while many were planted that
were not reported: many beautiful
groves of trees now adorn school grounds
that We're bare and unattractive and
would have remained SO had it not been
for the observance of Arbor Day.
Ii the matter is properly presented to
the people by the teachers and pupils. all
will take an interest in its observance and
every child will donate tree, a shrub or
vine for the purpose.
Have the children to 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 themselves in this mat
ter sufficiently to protect the grounds
from injury. Such teachers should not be
employed. for they are not competent to
instruct, govern and train children: moth
ing more plainly portrays the qualifca-
tons and taste of teacher than the con-
dltlon of the fencing, out-houses, trees
and shrubbery on the school grounds.
The teacher who has no taste in this d.
rection is unfit to be placed in charge Of
children.
Without discussing the matter further
believing all can understand and APP
preciate the benefits to be derived from
such a movement-a plan of procedure is
here outlined for those who desire to en-
courage the enterprise and assist in it's
execution, viz:
1. Select the trees to be planted, dig
them several days beforehand so as to
have them ready; wrap the roots with
wet straw or leaves to keep the roots
moist: bind nicely with a cord, and bury
the roots in Il moist place and let them
remain until you are ready to get them in
place.
,. 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 inches from the trunk.
3. The best trees to select are the fol-
lowing. in the order named: Linn, ash,
box-eider, elm, hard maple, sycamore,
pecan, walnut, soft maple and ever
green's.
4. All trees now 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 pass
ing beneath them. Keep the trees trimmed
in this way and it will never become nee
essary to cut off large limbs; besides 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.
). Call the meeting to order promptly at
80 p. NJ, April 5, and devote one hour to
''literary exercises" which may consist
of declarations, 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. Ii the
school is not in session, call meeting
about the first of April at the school
house, and appoint a committee to ar
range programme for the occasion.
6. Select some suitable person as fore
lot 10 nj 11lo
ting and general oversight in the
planting OF trees. A space should be
left at the center of each side of the
grounds. Plant the trees about eight feet
from the fence and do not put them near
err the house than twenty feet distant.
:. After the planting has been complet-
ed the trees should be protected by some
thing 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.
s. The teacher or district clerk will
please notify the county commissioner
what is done on this day, especially the
trees planted, as my next annual report
will embody this item. and they are the
only parties who can furnish the desired
information.
8. If the school grounds are not inclosed
by fence, an effort should be made to
have the annual meeting provide for the
same by giving due notice and voting
levy for that purpose. (Section 1060).
In the hope that the day may be observed
throughout the State, by teachers, chill
dren, patrons and the public, and thereby
render the grounds used for school pur-
poses as so many pleasant resorts for the
children and attractive to the passerby, I
subscribe myself,
Most respectfully,
W. E. COLEMAN.