The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-10
BY CHARLES w. FAIRBANKS.

The last legislature enacted into
law bill prepared with the excep,
ton of an amendment of a personal
character which was added on the
floor of the assembly, on behalf OF
The Indiana Forestry Association
designating the third Friday of April
in each year as a day for general
observance and to be known as Arbor
Day. 1t is the duty of the Governor
to make proclamation of the day at
least thirty days prior thereto, and the
county and city superintendent are
required to arrange a program of APP
propriate exercises in the schools un-
der their respective jurisdictions. This
advanced action upon the part of our
legislature is a subject for general
congratulation. 1t means a most de-
cisive and intelligent step forward in
forestry, and the effects thereof will
be most apparent in the years to
come. 1t is perfectly obvious that we
must educate the young people and
enlist their cooperation in forestry if
the largest and most enduring success
is to be attained.
portunity to emphasize the Importance
of forestry and give object lessons in
planting and growing which will be
of general and permanent value
Under the law, the day is fixed and
conspicuous fact and it will be cele.
brated in the future in a definite
widespread, systematic manner. We
can impress upon our minds no more
important lesson than that one which
teaches the necessity of conserving
our natural resources. and the necess
ity also of planning and planting for
the future. Arbor Day will tend to
emphasize the value of the intelligent
husbandry of shade and forest trees
shrubs and vines. We will learn to
plant them about our homes, around
school-houses and churches, alons
streets and highways, in parks and
the waste places. We will come tC
realize that our energies will be re
warded as what we plant grows into
strength and beauty, enrishing the at
Effectiveness of the community and ad
ding to the wealth of the State
While the law requires specific
recognition of Arbor Day by the
schools, all publie-spirited citizens in
every community must feel an interest
in the matter and share in making the
day success. They can contribute
of their means and their services tc
make the day of very large genera
good. 1t is desired by The Indiana
Forestry Association that the mem
bers of the Association should take
steps to observe Arbor Day in theil
respective communities, or cooperate
in some degree with the schools. The
example of active cooperation upor
the part of all who appreciate the i'm
portance of forestry will have a dis
tinctly beneficial influence through
out the community. Those who an
nually plant trees, shrubs and vines
will be repaid not only by the tangible
contribution which they make to the
beauty and pleasure of the community
but also by the satisfaction which they
will derive from the consciousness OF
something we'll done for the benefit OF
their home and their neighborhood
If each member of the Association
should do no more upon Arbor Day
than plant one tree, it will amount tC
much in the aggregate, and be worth
the slight effort required to do So
The Association is firmly of the op