The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-22
OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY
Memorial Trees Planted at the Ag-
ricultural Department.

An Address ny Secretary Wilson Out
lining the Idea Of the Government
Concerning che Protection of For
Characterization in the schools.
-Arbor Day was observed in Washington
this morning by the planting Of trees IN
the grounds of the Department of AgTI- /
culture in honor Of jeremiah NJ RuSk-
Secretary Of Agriculture from 1883 to 1875,
and Edwin Wilt. who was Assistant Sec
rotary during the same period
Secretary Wilson and George Sudworth.
bendioIogiSt of the department made
short addresses Just before the trees we're
planted. Quite a large crowd, IN which
were many employees of the department.
and others, was present. The trees plant
ed were young willow oaks. which species
is noted for its strength and rapid
growth They are located at the inteTsec-
ton Of the broad walks of the Depart
ment of Agriculture grounds. where they
viii occupy positions of prominence when
they attain their full growth
There were no celebrations in honor OF
the day in the public schools.
The first tree planted was that in honor
of the late Secretary Rusk. b T Gallo
way introduced Secretary Wilson who
said in part:
The destruction of trees in cur country
has been thorough and continuous from
the Atlantic westwardIy, as population
travelled until the Pacific was reached,
where our last great forest reserves are
now being destroyed at a rapid rate
through the agency Of nearly a thousand
.sa7vTniIls. The pine forests Of the North
have been cut down and those of the
South are rapidly following. The walnuts,
famous in the classics written in our Ian
guage have become 50 scarce that they
have almost ceased 10 be articles of COM
meree The oaks are going rapidly; only
q few great reserves are left to US This
may be said of many other varieties of
useful trees
1T Is our privilege and our duty to take
steps for the reforesting of our country
Educators throughout the centuries have
paid no attention to this subject Only
within the last few years have any of our
educational institutions established
schools for instruction along these lines
It is within our power to do something
to right the great wrongs that have been
peTpetrated against the trees in the past
we have gathered into our department
most of the scientists of the country who
have knowledge of trees. We have set
about teaching the people how to prop
agate trees from the seeds It is Our in
fentiCn to opagate every fine tree in
America and furnish them, through Con-
gressienaI distribution and otherwise, to
the localities where they are most at
home; and it is also our intention to bring
seeds and plants of valuable trees from
foreign countries and introduce them into
suitable localities in our own When We
have thoroughly learned how to propa-
gate the seed of each tree, we shall be
ready to send abroad farmers bulletins
telling the people how TO do IL
Much sentiment attaches TO trees
Poets have sung their praises, and we all
entertain aesthetic feelings. but the max
ing of songs and the writing of prose re-
garding trees, except in so far as farmers
bulletins are concerned, Is not our prov
ince- Il is our privilege and our duty TO
give information to the people Of the
United States how TO propagate and
plant, when to go to a tree for its seed.
and how to manage that seed after il has
been gathered And II IN the future It
shall be said of this department that it
taught the people Of the United States
how to propagate tree seeds, and intro
duced from foreign countries those that
are valuable. il will have justified the
expenditure Of al of the peoples money
that has gone through its bureaus, divi-
sioRs and Offices
At the conclusion Of Secretary Wilson'S
remarks the assenblage moved little
TO the north, where another tree was
planted Here brief remarks were made
by George Sudworth, the bendioIogist OF
the department MI Sudworth spoke Of
Secretary Rusk and Mr. Willis. both of
whom he knew personally and referred
to their juGiCious and wise administration
OF the affairs OF the department
He said tab, the Indian Territory.
and Alaska are the only States and Ter
Titories where Arbor Day IS not observed.
The District of Columbia is somewhat
tardy in coming to an observance OF the
day So far as know exercises in honor
of the day are being conducted in no
school of the District 1t is to be hoped
that hereafter an annual Arbor Day ceIe-
brati0n viii find its way into ali public
schools Of Washington
As the National Capital there IS no
more appropriate centre where the spirit
Of the day should become stronger. No
school exercise OF any kind can be more
liberalizing. more eIeVatfng, more inprov-
ing, TO children than the planting of
trees.
BY means Of such exercises children
would acquire new interest in the life Of
trees and their protection 1t is said that
children Of the United States are taught
the true spirit OF liberty; but they are not
all taught to respect public garden
shrubs and trees These are too often
subject to destruction at their hands,
4 GASOLINE STOVE EXPLoDEs.
Sets Fire to n Tailor Shop, which Is