The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-05-03
SCOPE AND USE OF ARs0R DAY.
Suggestions for Making the Planting
M Trees BY School Children an
Exercise Ia Forest Work.


Afterwards Secretary Of Agriculture.
and has SINCE mado is way from State
10 State until provision Tor is oosery.
snce exists IN almost every State aud
Territory.
The central idea Of Arbor Day is the
intelligent and appreciatiyc planting Of
trees by school children. The planting
is usually accompanied by exercises,
which are intended 10 impress upon
the children the beauty and usefulness
Of trees aud thus lend 10 the work the
value OF BIZ Of nature study, Arbor
Day has undoubtedly done much 20 In
culcaie love Of trees. and has given
added impetus 20 the general move
ment for the better knowledge and the
wiser use Of forests.
Yet there is no question that Arbor
Day can he made more practical than
il has been; tha, it can be brought in
to closer touch with forestry by being
made the opportunity for carrying out
simple steps in forest work. The per
manent results Of Arbor Day from the
standpoint Of successful planting have
frequently been Disappointing. Too
ofteh spsalss entirely unsu'ted for
either economic ef ornamental planting
hays been used, Still more common
causes Of failing have been the lack OF
sufficient care IN doing the work, and
neglect OF trees after they are planted.
In this way much Of the educational
value Of the work is lost. BY leaving
the trees unprotected from animals, in
sects, and other destructive agencies
the intended good example is turned,
for want III q litilG care, into noga'
tive one.
But even when the planting has been
well conceived and wisely carried out,
there is often lacking, in work of this
natars, all refsreaee 10 the larger as.
pect of forest planting. The ultimate
aim of the day might well be 10 prompt
and encourage not so much sentiment
for trees as sentiment for the forest.
Yet the practice has been TO plant indi-
viduai trees rather than groves, and
the relation Of the single tree 10 the
forest has not been pointed out. Talks
on Arbor Day have not dwelt enough
upon the economic side Of forestry, or
have tended to give wrong impression
of the whole subject by lamenting all
cutting of trees. The effect of this has
been actually opposed to the forester $
teachings.
Arbor Day is the time for dissemin-
atinR sound. practical knowledge re-
garding forestry in its broader aspect.
The mere act of setting n few trees,
| without reference TO the commercial
utility and the protective value Of for
ests, is but small part of the work of
the day.
The proper season for planting is not
everywhere the same. South of the
thirty-sevsnth parallel, especially in
the more humid regions, fall planting
is perhaps preferable, but north OF
this the winter comes on so quickly that
the trees have scarcely time to develop
roots strong enough to support them
until spring, and spring planting is
therefore more advisable. The right
time to plant in spring is when the
ground has ceased to freeze and before
budding begins, Evergreens may be
planted somewhat later than hard
woods. The day to plant is almost as
important as the season. Sunny,
windy weather is very unfavorable;
cool, damp days are the best, FoI
this reason it is well to leave the date
for Arh0r day unhxed, so that the best
opportunity may be chosen. Such ex
ercises rs are desired can follow wheI
the planting is done.
The careful selection Of trees for {
specific use and situation Is essential u
success, and proper planting Is equal,
important. Though less fastidiou'
than agricultural crops in their de
mands upon the soil, trees can not b.
set In rough soil at random and theI
expected TO flourish. They should b.
planted without allowing their roots Il
dry ont from exposure 10 the open air
When delay between procuring th'
trees and their planting can not b,
avoided, the roots must be kept mois
by standing them In puddle" mad,
Of earth and wgter mIsed to the con
sisteney Of cream, or "heeled.in" b.
nearly burying them In fresh earth
In setting the trees IL is important Il
F. place them about three inches deepe
than they stood originally, and b
spread out ths roots and pack the vol
firmly about them. Two Inches OF sol
Mt the top should DO left very loose, :
act as mulch to retain the moisture
Large trees are by no menns Away
; the best to plant. Small seedlings ma
be secured easily and cheaply, and ar
,, much more likely to live. " these ~
set out IN good numbers after the pat
tern Of commercial plantation the
, will become in due time true fores
on small scale.
II only few trees are planted. as
usually the case, il Is still possible +
make plain the true relation OF sue
: work 10 forestry. No matter how fe'
the trees, they may be made TO Illus
trste planting for commercial or pre-
, tective use.
: The SCOPE OF Arbor Day plantIn
! may sometimes BE- broadened by secui
; ing permission from some public-spiri'
: : cd citizen or nearby farmer for ib
children 10 plant small block OF tres
on his land. This could be made
practical demonstration OF how sue
work ia done on larger scale.
!, L autsida M. soor. ~ the n,tnal plan