Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-21

H~N HAT thought that was when GOD
thought of a tree" exclaimed
- John Ruskin in wonder as he
lM looked upon those beautiful and
S useful ornaments of nature. And
the heather philosopher voiced the same
thought when he said "A tree is the gift
Of heaven to man." .
Some places in the world are said to be
more favorable to the growth Of trees than
Nebraska, but man has demonstrated that
even the "treeless plains" can be "peopled.
with trees. In fact, citizen of Nebraska
FIRST conceived the idea OF Arbor day, which
spread with remarkable rapldity through
out the United States and over a consider
able portion of the civilized globe, until
now one day in the year is set apart for
the planting of trees in every state of the
United states, in many European states,
In Australia, Japan and other countries.
J. stgrling Mortoni that great and prao-
teal minded man, preached the idea Of
Arbor day at the annual meeting of the
Nebraska Board of Agriculture in Lincoln
on Jar aary 4, 1S72 He introduced resolu-
tioh providing that April 10 Of that year
be observed as "Arbor day." that a prize
Of 200 be- Riven the county planting prop
sry the greatest number of trees and SIS
worth Of books to the person planting the
greatest number. The resolution was unani-
mously adopted.
The newspapers gave the matter wide
publicity and the people of the state where
trees were few quickly adopted the idea.
The first Arbor day the world had seen was
q great SUCCESS in Nebraska and more
than a million trees were set to growing
upon the treeless plains of the great Amer
lean desert, The following year the day
was observed with still greater enthusiasm.
The trees set out the previous year. were
growing and the people were not slow to
Bee the great praoucabilty Of the plan.
TWO million trees were set out the second
year.
In 1874 the matter received the governors
attention and the first Arbor day proclama-
ton was issued by Governor Furnas in that
year In 1885 the legislature set apart
April q to be observed each year as Arbor
day and 1t has been observed on that date
ever since.
what Do You Know About TreesF
How many of the people Of Omaha can
tell an elm from poplar tree? Or a
poplar from sycamore?
How many people of Omaha know that
there are forty different kinds of trees
growing in the park system Of this cityP
The number who know these things IL
small for the simple reason that the eiti-
gems are not tree-studying people, The
city 10 too new to have come to the stage
where civic beauty becomes study q
science. The city government recognized
the Importance of arboriculture In the
citys plan of Improvement when the park
commission was created nearly twenty
years ago. The result OF this is that In
the parks today may be found a beautiful
variety OF trees and shrubs and flowers
hourishing In Nebraska wind and rain and
sunshine and forming picture of greensry
and color not surpassed in any city tbs
size Of Omaha.
So far so well. but the yards surrounding
Omaha residences and the streets running
In front OF the same offer a wide field fol
the cultivation OF trees. They offer bis
home waiting to be filled by trees, thirty
five or forty varieties OF them only waitinl
70 be invited