Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-07
AKBOR DAY.
state superintendent Hottt Desires
one Appointed.

State superintendent Hoht Dos
one Appointed.
State Superintendent of Public In
struction Ira G Hoitt has addressed the
various school superintendent, teachers,
trustees and parents of the public school
children ON the subject of establishing
an arbor day. In reference to the matter
he says: All will agree that there is no
spot on earth that may not be made
more beautiful by the help OF trees and
flowers. Much has been written and
said about the wanton destruction of our
forests, and while our schools cannot
protect the forests, they may and can
train up generation that will frown
upon and rebuke their wanton destruc.
tion generation that will not leave our
mountains, hillsides and home sur.
roundings treeless. Trees everywhere
exert controlling moral influence.
This fact we know and feel in our every
day existence, and every sapling which
we plant in our door yard, or upon the
naked side walk in front OF our dwellings,
makes, with every spreading branch, ex-
panding leaf and opening blossom, home
pleasanter and our recollections of it and
our love for it stronger. Our schools bear
close relation to the family, and we
should not be satisfied till eur school
grounds. as we'll as our homes, are such,
in themselves and their surroundings, as
shall be attractive, and surely tend to
strengthen, ennoble, and elevate human
Character. /, therefore, earnestly urge
the superintendent in each county aud
ths trustees in each district to agree in
setting apart one day to be known as
"Arbor Day." and unite with the teach
ers and friends in taking the children cut
Of their school rooms, and teaching them
how to plant trees. vines and shrubs,
and how to care for them when planted.
Let us teach the children to become
familiar with trees, to think of their
value, and to love them. Thus may they
be led by natures hand to noble
thoughts and worthy deeds. Superin-
tendent Brooke, of San Bernardino
county, is doing much in this direction
in the schools of his county. | notice
also that George c. Roeding, nursery
man in Fresno county, has offered to
furnish the following trees and shrubs
free to every school district in his county
that will apply for them: Two
naples, one Texas umbrella. two
figs, one pear, one locust, two olive
trees, one fen palm and two rose bushes.
He notifies trustees u make application
at once, and he will have the trees snd
plants packed and ready for delivery by
February 18th. Is there not some one
in your county or neighborhood who can
and who will, if it is suggested to him, !,
make a like offer to your districts ?
Where there is will there is generally
found a way. In some districts the
school grounds are already we'll orna-
mented with trees. In such cases let
the occasion be observed by planting
trailing vines, shrubs and flowers, thus
increasing the beauty of the grounds and
creating in the children a love for the
beautiful and pride in the appearance
of the school building. 1 sincerely hope
that you will unite in an effort to accom-
plish the object herein suggested. Let
Arbor Day once be inaugurated, and we
may succeed in arousing sentiment
among the people which will make pos
sible and effective remedial legislation
in the line of forest laws, such as may
bs demanded.