The Newtown bee., 1894-05-11

At the meeting of Pohtatuck Grange on Monday night, an interesting paper on The origin of Arbor day and the benefits derived from it's observance" was read by Rev o. o. Wright. There were also readings by Miss Helen Beers and Mrs Schermerhorn and an interest ing discussion on the hen. A portion of M Wrights paper is given herewith:
 This is the subject assigned to me for this meeting. Unfortunately Arbor Day is passed, or 1 might urge upon the Grange some practical plan for it's obser- ance. lG is not too late, however, to plant trees and I want first of all to ex hort you, both by precepE and by exam pie, to plant trees.
 As personal experience, for the sake of your own happiness, 1 say, plant trees.
 I speak from my own experience. I have planted trees in four states, viz: Rhode 1 sland, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
 have planted fruit trees, and have planted shade trees. 1 have eaten of the fruit of trees that 1 planted; and 1 have rested beneath the shade trees which I set, and was sheltered from the sun. And I am not an old man yet.
 Ia two states I have planted trees in school grounds, and in two states have set them in church grounds.
 Nearly all the trees I have ever set have lived, and it is source of great satisfaction to me that l have helped in a humble way to make this world more beautiful and better and happier, even by the simple task of planting trees.
 As the old white haired man said when the youth asked him why he should trouble himself to plant trees seeing that he could not live to eat the fruit of them :: Somebody took the trouble to plant trees for me, and somebody will come after me to enjoy the fruit of my labors.' .'' Trees stand as the living land marks of the successive generations.
 As we are all glad of the good we have inherited so we in turn should labor to transmit even greater blessings to our children and ehidren's children for many years to come. l planted an elm 1 tree last Arbor Day which if it lives may be comfort and benefit to 10 or | more generations, for an elm is known to l live from $50 to 300 years.
 | These coming generations may not | know my name but they will be grateful for the trees, and I am happy in the con- sciousness that have helped to make a | few homes, and schools and churches | beautiful. and healthful and blessed l with comfort, by means of them. | 1 know an old man in Massachusetts, who sits under the shade and shelter of \ the great elms which now arch the little old village street, which he helped to plant before l was born, and he is very | happy when talks about them and links them reverently with the associations o1 his youth, now so wildly recurring to himein the sunset glow of his life. It seems very strange to me, now that any one should fail to appreciate the valu6Sof trees.
 It seems that Nebraska has the honor of originating our Arbor Day.
 I As near as can learn it was in 1875 At the request of the State Board O Agrieulture the governor of the state appointed the second Wednesday .ir April as the day for tree planting, aud i is claimed that F ,000, 900 of trees were planted on that day.
 The successive governors have con
 tinued to appoint the day, and accord ing to the Century Dictionary, 1889, |
 states have adopted the idea.
 {. Economic tree planting is not of cours new thing. Warren Higley, preside n
 of the Ohio State Forestry Association
 says: ssThe importance of forestry ha been recognized by the governments 0 : Europe for more than a century past Schools of forestry have been estab
 ilshed, and it's principles reduced to
 science. These are the result of necssi : ty. The wide spread destruction of tn
 forests so affected the climate and pro
 ductions of the soil, and the wants an,
 the manufacturing interests of the pee tl pie, and the wealth and prosperity Q
 the nation, that the governments Wer
 forced to legislate and prevent tn
 threatened destruction which was foam
 to surely follow the complete denudatio of the forests. The most wholesome e1
 fects have resulted wherever a system z
 forestry has been introduced and fol