The Holt County sentinel., 1892-03-11

To my Immediate predecessor, the
Hon. w. Z. Coleman, belongs the credit
Of inaugurating Arbor Day IN Missouri.
The frat observance was in April, 1886.
The law setting apart the first Friday
after the first Tuesday of April in each
ysar,as ATbor Day Pas passed in 1889. Tie
state superintent's reports show the fol-
lowing result Of the observance:
In 1851 80, 9.736 trees were planted
1885, ., 334;I889. 80 8, 1903; lS90-9l. 9,756
total, 38,T;59. This Is an excellent show
ing,
The objact OF the observance is to
plant trees on the school grounds, to in
culcate knowledge of trees and 10 in
spire q love OF them. Additional objects
are 90 teach the value Of forest produces 5
and incidentally to inculcatc 4 love Of
nature aud to make sentiment in favor
of beautifying home grounds. Then, We
desire the youth of Missouri 70 study
trees because thoy protect from sum
Iners sun and winters blast; because
they beautify home and school, hill and
dale; bccause of their wonderful in
fiuence upon climate; because the an
nual forest products of tho United
States rr.rh the enormous ralue Of one
billion Gaiiars-ten times the value of
the output of geld and silver.
Thst the oi.serNaace rag be sue
cess, it is necessary to enrioy system
and foresight; to decide in t:tle npon the
number aud location Of the trees; TO
make definite arrangements for obtaining
trees; TO assign the planting of each
tree 10 certain pupil or group OF pupils;
TO dig the holes in time.
Carefully seiec: the trees 70 he plant
ed; wrap the rUots with stray or ieavos
To keep them moist; bad carefully with
ii cord and bury the roots IN 4 MOST
place go as 10 be readyior planting. The
trees selected should lie smoo,h anu
shapely and from one TO tNo Inches i'll
diameter; should be trimmed form six
u seven feet high and topped. Plant
hDDGt tI-HL iftl ll'Blii tiit tti4Nt ris'l lJs
nearer than twenty feet of the house.
Ii is one thing to plant tree and
another thing 10 protect il 10 see that
il lives and is carefully trimmed from
year to year, so that it may grow M a
beautiful, shapely thing. or tho 3S.IJ9
trees planted in Missouri during the
four years observance Of the day. how
many OF them are alive: how many OF
them are beautiful aud shapsiy? Let us
look up this matter carefully. f,r IL the
next report blanks sent ont from
this department these questions
will be asked.
After planting, the trees should be
protected by throwing around them Il
good supply of straw. leaves or trash.
1t is earnestly recommended that the
following subjects be discussed be dis
cussed by prominent citizens Of the dis
trict: The Eiucative Value Of Beauti-
ful School Grounds. The Best Trees for
Missouri, the value OF Forest Products
the Best Method Of Planting Trees, the
Best Method of Protecting and Trim
ming trees, the Effect of Trees nn Cli.
mate. For literary program see Mis-,
souri, school journal and and other edu
'cational journals. | would be pleased ii
the press of the state would call for
articles on these subjects at once, thus
nroUsing an interest in the observance
ths day.
Trusting that patrons, teachers and
pupils will do their whole duty iu the
'observance of this day, / an,
Very respectfully,
L. Z. Wu,rr,
SE1fa S,,,,t D. ILL.,, S.L,.,ls