New-York tribune., 1891-05-09
ARBOR-DAY OBSERVANCES.
EXERCISES IN THE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
VOTING FOR THE STATE FLowER-eoLDEN ROD


VOTING FOR THE STATE FLowER-GoLDEN ROD
AND ROSE THE ONLY CANDIDATES.
Arbor Day was celebrated yesterday in the trad
tonal manner. Special exercises were held In every
school-house OF the city and thousands Of children
learned Interesting things about trees The orhcial
programme consisted OF devotional exercises reading
songs, essays declamations remarks by visitors ad
dresses by the teacher and the vote for the State
Hover The speeches. essays and selections all re-
lated to trees and Of interest 10 the pupils teach
ers and visitors alike The school children during the
last few years have become interested in Arbor Day
that they welcomed 1t with the feelings that they
usually reserve for holidays
For several weeks the thousands Of school chidi.n
Of this city have been busy studying books on botany
and forestry and In questioning their parents in regard
to trees Many OF them have made excursions TO the
woods and have endeavored TO learn much as posi-
BILE in natures workshop. The knowledge that
the pupils displayed yesterday remarkable in many
instances and proved what admirable institution
from an educational point Of view Arbor Day had De-
come Unfortunately, few trees could be planted
about the majority OF the school houses OF this city.
In some of the schoolhouse yards in Harlem and tho
Annexed District however, the children able to
beautify their grounds. The trees planted, sug
gested by the State Superintendent were dedicated to
the memory OF some patriot of whom the country IS
proud All Of the children received least theoretical
lessons In trce-plantng and tree-preservation.
Great interest was taken In the vote for the state
flower. Last year no single flower received abso-
lutte majority Of the cast by the teachers children
and other persons who cared 10 express their choice.
The golden rod and the ose however proved TO be the
most popular flowers and they alone were selected
contestants for the honor this year. Strict rules
governed the casting and the counting Of the votes.
There was no dishonesty at the polls. 1t was mpos
sble to say yesterday which the favorite flower
~ tha Na.rN Nn,l ahnnl Gttnnr rip4an Aapf
Josper will receive the returns to-day or tomorrow.
He will then send them to Albany, where Mr.. Draper
and his assistants will count them with the returns
from ether parts Of the State.
The total number of votes cast last year 316,-
O70. They were divided among 121 candidates. The
golden rod received e1,309 votes, and the TO-,
G66
1t is believed that fully 10000 trees planted in
various parts of the State by school children yester
day. In 1880 5,s61 schools planted 24,166 trees,
while last year S,106 schools set out o7,130. The
day has become dcarer each year 10 the children.
One Of the greatest friends OF Arbor Day in this
State is William A. Wadsworth Of Geneseo. Last year
he offered valuable prizes to various schools and this
year he will give 800 for the best kept rural district
school grounds prize of $50 will go to the second
best grounds. The winners of the prizes will be an
nounced in the newspapers
Public recognition will be made by the State Board
OF Education of the pupil who sends the best col
lection of bark, wood sections, leaves and seed Of
the maple tree. gold medal will be given also TO the
pupil who writes the best essay the best plan
for the most profitable observance Of Arbor Day.
The essay must not exceed 400 words in length, and
according TO the circular must be sent before De-
cembcr 1, 1901, TO the School Commissioner City
superintendent having Jurisdiction the school Of
which the writer is attendant. The writer must
sign the essay with fictitious name which with the
writer's real name and address must be given on a
card and placed in a sealed envelope This envelope
be enclosed with the essay and sent under seal to
the School Commissioner City superintendent. The
commissioner or superintendent will appoint three
persons to examine the essays received and select BEST
which will be forwarded with small envelope accom-
panyng the TO the State Superintendent Of Pub
lie instruction. He will appoint three persons to
examine the essays thus forwarded and determine which
is the best essay The envelopes containing the real
and fictitious names Of writer's shall not be opened
until the committee shall have made its decision and
port TO the state superintendent The writer OF the
pest essay, thus determined, shall receive gold
medal"
The name Of the successful essayist will be announced
in the "ArbOr Day Circular OF 1892, and the medal
will be presented on Arbor Day.
Rondout, N y, May 9.-Interesting Arbor Day ex-
ercses were held In all the schools here At Ulster
school by the Board of Education and raised pole
ninety feet high. The weather all that could be
desired. Many trees were planted through Ulster
County.
Newburg May 9.-Arbor Day was observed here by
exercises in all the public schools.