The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-04-15
The Coming ArbOr Day, April Is.

There are many interesting and instruc-
tive lessons to the younger generation in
Arbor Day. In the schools of the cities
the celebration does not produce as vivid
an impression as in the country schools,
where the children are "nearer to natures
God" The country boy, to the manner
born, knows full well the promise that is
planted with the tree. He looks beyond
the planting time; he knows the varying
changes the tree undergoes with the sea-
sons. He realizes it is planted for future
use and looks forward to every stage of
its development.
The average city boy looks on the plant
ing of the Arbor Day tree more as a pic
mic event-a half holiday occasion. Dur
ing the ceremonies, including the address
by the teacher, his mind is probably filled
with anticipations of the diversions in
which he has planned to engage during
the afternoon. Digging up a few bricks
in the school yard, making hole, plant
ing tree therein and naming it after one
of the teachers will interest him chiefly
because of the novelty of the proceedings.
There are probably city teachers who
know the difference between the various
kind of trees, but it is to be feared that
the number of such is not as great as
might be desired Those teachers who
are we'll informed on the subject ought
to be able to interest the pupils by telling
them much that is novel and instructive
about trees. But in the case of teacher
who doesn't know one tree from another,
but nevertheless attempts to elaborate
his ideas on the subject, no one need be
surprised if the boy pupils think more
about baseball, marbles, whip-top and
other recreations than the teachers dis
course. Every teacher may, however,
accomplish much good by making AJbor
Day also bird day, as the Governor has
suggested, and teaching the boys who
make war upon the birds with air rifles
and sling shots that the birds are not only
Gods creatures, but great friends of man.
kind
"Planting" trees and "setting them out"
are generally understood to mean the
same thing, but there is difference. The
expert knows there are certain rules that
govern the growth and life of newly
planted tree. The novice doesn't know
and he simply sets the tree in hole,
shovels in the dirt and trusts to luck and
Providence to do the rest. In setting
out trees the holes should be dug large
enough to spread the roots out in their
natural positions. If the soil or the SUBJ
soil is clayey, sandy or poor, some good
Soil should be thrown into the hole-hve
or six inches deep, at least-on which the
tree roots should be placed. Then shovel
on little fine dirt at time, gently work
ing the tree up aud down, 80 as to sift it
we'll among the small roots. AS soon as
the roots are covered pack the earth with
the feet, being careful not to bruise the
bark of the tree. Do not set the tree any
deeper in the ground than it was before.
Before planting take sharp knife and
cut off all bruised or broken root extrem.
lLlcS. 1T GIcc SuOulO dloO UC
or, as it is termed, "cut back"-that is,
the long branches should be shortened
foot or more, according to their growth.
Pile up the earth around the tree a little
higher than the surrounding surface. Do
not do this in conical shape, but level it
off, otherwise the rains will run off and
the newly planted tree will not receive
sufficient moisture. After a while the
earth will settle even with the surface
Never put on SO little dirt that there will
will be depressions around the tree trunks
to gather and hold water In the country
the aim is, as far as possible, to set out
trees whose products will be valuable,
such as fruit and nut trees. Such trees
are attractive in foliage and thus possess
both beauty and utility. They are of far
greater value than trees which are priz ed
only for their handsome APPEARANCE
Baltimore Sun.