Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-05-01
Supt. Clapp Issues Il Circular
Urging the Observance Of
.ArbOr Day.
\ Bismarck Seed Man Gives
Some Valuable Points on
Tree Culture.
How They Feel ZIP in Eddy
County after the Recent
Heavy Rains.
Urging Tree culture.

Superintendent of Public instruction
Clapp has issued the following circular
letter to county superintendent and
teachers in which he urges the general
observance of Arbor day aud makes some
good suggestions in regard to suitable ex
ercises:
His Excellency, Governor John Miller,
has ordered and appointed Tuesday, May
6, 1890, to be observed as Arbor day in
North Dakota; and has tittingly urged
that our schools devote the day to the
planting of trees in the school grounds.
[ desire to emphasize the importance
of this suggestion, and to urge upon su-
perintendents, teachers, officers and all
other persons interested in the success Of
our schools, and the enlightened educa-
ton of our youth to encourage and assist
in this movement.
The age of ugly school houses, barren
walls and bleak, lonesome surroundings
has passed. We believe it to be the duty
of the schools to impress upon the minds
Of the children an idea of the beautiful
as we'll as desire to make others happy;
to make the school a model re-
public working for the common
good. Arbor day furnishes such an
Opportunity Ours is a praire state.
and the eye wearies of the monotony Of
the plain, and a few thrifty trees are a
pleasant sight to the beholder; while
their shade in summer, and protection
from storm in winter are a benefit any
child may understand.
Let the day then he generally observ-
ed. In graded schools the several classes,
in ungraded and country schools the
scholars may each have tree; or such a
division of the work may be made as the
teachers deem best. The principal OBJ
ject sought IS to arouse an interest in
the work; that the trees be planted, and
afterwards cared for. Officers and pa
rents should AID in securing the trees:
the cost will be very trit1ing. Exercises
with recitations and songs appropriate
for the day should be prepared, and pa
rents and friends encouraged to attend
and assist Let it be half holiday, and
make it profitable one.
Whatever is done let it be well done.
Such culture as makes the tree to live
and grow IS desired rather thar the lit
eral following of the proclamation with
out the growing tree. as is often made to
satisfy the land office department.. DO not
undertake too much; the world was not
made IN a day; leave some implanted
ground for succeeding years. Only do
your own planting so next years class
will not have that to do over again. Try
our plan and thus help to make the school
houses and grounds comfortable and at
tractlve. We shall be glad to receive re-
ports from any and all teachers who OBJ
serve the day.
Mr.. Oscar H. Will, the seed grower and
successful arboriculturlst of Bismarck.N.
D., is entitled to credit for the fol-
lowing valuable suggestions: He says
cottonwoods will do we'll in the deep soil
of the valleys Of the state, especially in
the Red river valley. Box elders do best
on the rolling prairie. Trees six to
twelve feet in height should be chosen,
and the limbs of the tree should be we'll
Topped Oft, and the roots should be left
as long as possible and cut smooth, leav-
ing no ragged edges such as are caused
by the spade IN digging. The excava-
tion for the tree should be eighteen
inches IN depth, and two to three feet in
diameter. The sod should be pulverized
and thrown in under the roots of :he
tree. Over the roots throw in the tine
dirt and shake the tree gently up and
down, while filing in, to keep the soil
light; leave slight depression about the
tree and moisten the ground thoroughly.
If the ground about the tree Is mulched
with straw the moisture will be retained.
Mosten the ground thoroughly in dry
weather every ten days. Slight daily
watering is injurious. When 1t can be
done. box about the tree to protect it
from the rays of the sun is advised. See
that the ground freezes up wet, and we
are assured that the tree will 1--we and
grow.