The Globe-republican., 1902-03-06
TREE PLANTING ON RURAL
SCHOOL GROUNDS.


of Agriculture, Washington, on the
planting of trees on school house
grounds The season has arrived
for the consideration of this mat
ter, and it is well enough to take the
suggestions before hand.
The denuded condition of school
house grounds is shown in illustra-
tions ia this pamphlet. The unpro-
tected buildings in a prosperous agri-
cultural region is blight on the in
teiligence and enterprise of the peo-
pie.
The object of the pamphlet is to in
fuse life in tree culture. Forestry is
beginning to attract attention as a
possible subject of school instruction,
the author of the pamphlet says. The
educational value of trees is pointed
ont. Bare grounds may be regarded
as an opportunity. Children inter
ested in the work of selecting, plant
ing and growing trees and shrubs
about the school can gain in the work
no little knowledge of right principles
and methods. Many people think
that to plant tree all that needs be
done is to dig up a sapling, or buy
1t, and set it in a hole. This is
great mistake, responsible for many
unnecessary failures. Some know
ledge of tree culture is thing sure
to prove useful to large portion of
school children.
So far the interest in it is mainly
as branch of natural study, but it's
eventually result in extensive
introduction in courses of study.
Technical forestry cannot be taught
an schools as part of a general educa
tion, and it ought not to be supposed
that tree planting on school grounds
looks in that direction. Neverthe-
less plantation of forest trees or
wood lot, in connection with q school,
would give an excellent opportunity
for study of forest growth and man
agement, and in many places it is
perfectly feasible.
There is another side to the educa-
tional value of tree planting, which
is of first importance. 1t is money
well spent to make the school house
and everything about it attractive and
beautiful. Here is one of the centers
of the life of the community, the one
in which is gathered its most impress
sionnble element. The school is sup
ported at public expense in order to
make good American citizens. 1t
aims at securing the highest possible
development of mind and character
Every element of order, -neatness,
and beauty, every broadening inf1u-
ence, every appeal to the finer nature
of the child means better men and
women and a more thrifty, prosper
Gus, and attractive community.
Americans are justly proud of their
school system, and should be willing
to support the schools not only with
money, but with time and labor.
Mr.. Hall, who has charge of the
bureau of forestry, says a great num-
Der of school houses in the United
States lack the surroundings that
make for comfort and contentment
City school grounds are often SO
small that planting is out of the ques-
ton, though, when space permits, it
is not uncommon to find them care
fully laid out, with a good arrange
ment of grass plots, flower beds, and
shade trees In towns and villages,
also may be pointed out many exam
pies showing great care and atten-
tion. In the country, however, an
improved school ground is rarely
found Tn billy, forest regions, they
are often denuded of soil and full of
stones and stumps, and on the prairie
many are well-nigh as bare. bleak and
as when they formed
a part of the unsettled plain.
This lack of Improvement is not
due to causes evident at first sight. |
Tt is not on account of poverty, for it |
is almost as common in wealthy as in |
less prosperous communities. It is