The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-28
ARROR DAY.

Under the proclamation Of Gov. McGraw
today will be observed as Arbor day by
the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers.
The idea Of Arbor day is excellent both
on its practical and Its spiritual side. The
thing that a thoughtful, observant En-
glishman notes rs conspicuously absent in
America. compared with England, is tho
general cultivation Of flowers and shrubs.
In England flowers arc cultivated every
where by both rich and poor, and the En-
glish wild primrose,is protected by law
from destruction. English meadows,
lanes and heaths are charming to the eye.
with their hawthorn hedges, their beeches
and ems. In the great manufacturing
towns. even. you see flower beds in front
Of the workmen's cottages. This national
love Of flowers CLEANS through all English
literature. both poetry and fiction. Shak.
speare is full Of illusions to flowers, both
cultivated and wild blossoms. Autolycus
sings:
When daiFodiis begin to peer
Why then comes In the swest o. year.
The fair Perdita In the same play of
Winters Tale" distributes to the guests
at the shepherds feast. rosemary. rue, and
arehiy says that she does not care to plant
carnations and streaked gilly flowers; she
scatters lavender. mint, savory. marjoram
and marigolds. and then she talks to her
lover Of the flowers Of spring. of daffodils,
violeis dim, pale primroses, bold oxl,ps
and lilies of all kinds. the flower de luce
being one. Ophelia In her madness dis
tributes pansies, fennel, columbines and
daisies, and in her fantastic garlands she
weaves crow flowers. and "long purples."
These "long puppies" were the Wild
meadow orchis.
In Loves Labor Lost" We find this
beautiful verse describing spring 40 the
season
When daisies pied and voiets blue
Aud lady-smocks all slvsr-whits
Aud euckoo-buds of yellow hue
Do paint the meadows with delight
In other songs flour o'clocks" and cow
slips are described. All through Shak-
spearc are found illustrations of this ma
tionsi love of trees. fruits and flowers.
The Bishop of Ely. in Richard Ill" has
good Strawberries in his garden at Hol-
born. English statesmen have this love OF
flowers. Sir William Temple. the famous
diplomat, In his retirement. gives his days
To horticulture. and Disraeii vas 50 fond
OF primroses that his admirers wear them
in memory on Primrose day" This ns-
tional love Of flowers the Englishman
brought across the sea with him, but lie
retains ii IN Canada while he seems 70
have lost something of it In America
One of the charming things about our
beautiful, homelike. resttul city of Vic.
toris, il. c, IS the abundance of English
flowers from the mother land that have
been naturalised there by the Immigrants
who settled there years ago. Their fret
thought was TO plant their home flowers
in their new home. Along the roAdsides
In Victoria you see the English daisies.
the iarkspur. the foxglove, and other
flowers OF the motheriand, and Scotch
broom grows luxurisntly everywh here.
The cottages are covered with red and
white climbing rose, aud Tom Hoods
lilac where the robin buiis" 10 before
The door. The spontaneous old English
love Of beauty burns brighter in Victoria
han on our side Of the border.
Somehow vs Americans seem TO have
ios. something Of our original cd Engl sh
taste and passion for flower and tree
culture, and il 10 to be hoped that the an
nuA, celebration Of Arbor day will do
something towards reviving il in our
breasts. 80 reckless have Ne been hitherto
m the needless waste OF our forests that
He sre described as nation of tree de-
s'-oyers rather than Of tree planters. Il
1876 the Centennial year. great many
frees were So out; and this, tae Columbian
year, ogght - he commemorate by the
planting 81 great many more, and whea
planted they should 10 given plenty of
'oom 10 spread ana develop their full
capacity FOR growth AMI iuxurian, foliage.
Aroor day helps 70 educate the grow.
lng generation 10 a sense Of the yAlue of
seauss!a. environment u iEss., etyuhs and