Arizona republican., 1922-03-24

day, as Arbor Day, and making it a
legal holiday.
From its inception until the present
day, Arbor Day has been celebrated
enthusiastically in Nebraska. Tree
planting was no new thing In the
state. as the earliest settlers found
the lack of timber a serious drawback.
Not only was wood needed for fuel
and fence posts. but wooded areas
for the protection of field crops and
fruit trees from winds sweeping
across this flat country were impera-
tive. But until Mr.. Morton gave his
idea to the state, tree planting had
been haphazard. Nearly a billion
trees have been planted in the state
since the institution of Arbor Day.
Instead OF being the 'treelegs state,
Nebraska rs now one of the leaders in
practical forestry, it being estimated
that 100000 acres have been planted
in trees. In 1895. in recognition of
this great change, the Nebraska legis-
lature passed a resolution giving the
state the popular name Of "The Nee
Planters State"
Other States Follow
Kansas and Tennessee were the
next states to take to the idea, fol-
lowing the lead of Nebras ska in 1875.
The following year Minnesota Joined
the ranks. Kansas was much the
same sort OF territory as Nebraska,
and the same reasons impelled the
action of that state. Minnesota was
forested, but the white pine there was
being destroyed at such an alarming
rate. with no provision for future re-
uuirements,' that the Arbor day idea
got quick response there.
After Minnesota adopted the idea,
there was wait of some years. Then
in 1882 North Dakota and Ohio began
to celebrate the day. The first cele-
bration in Ohio gave a new angle TO
the spread of the idea. At national
forestry convention in Cincinnati the
school children took prominent part
10000 Of them parading through the
streets to Eden Park, where trees
were planted in memory of great men.
The children participated in singing
and reciting. and in putting soil about
the roots Of the newly planted trees.
This occasion was the inauguration of
making Arbor Day a school festival
and of planting memorial trees and
groves.
These new developments came to
be known as "the Cincinnati plan"
and are regarded as largely respon-
sible for the spread of the Arbor day
idea throughout the rest OF the Unit
ed States, and even beyond. AS a
school festival Arbor day is observed
throughout the country. Ontario in
1887 set aside the first Friday in May
as flower and tree planting day.
The plan was officially adopted in
Spain in 1896. Hawaii took It up IN
1905. Arbor day is now recognized
and celebrated in all OF the depen-
dencies of the United States, in Great |
Britain, Canada, Australia, the Brit |
ish West Indies, South Africa. New
Zealand, France, Norway, Russia, |
Japan and China.
Climatic conditions make the OBJ
servance OF this occasion occur at |
various times of the year throughout |
the world. IN Alabama and Texas as
we'll as other places a day already a |
holidy has been selected. in the |
two states named Washingtons |
birthday is also Arbor day. In ia |
maica the day is celebrated on Queen |
Victorias birthday. In many of our |
states il is combined with Bird day. |
The date is earlier in the South and |
later in the North Of our own coun-
try, the dates running from February |
to May.
War Aided Tree Planting
The recent world war gave tree
planting an added impetus. The idea
of memorial trees was put forth and
well throughout the country.
Memorial groves and trees for the
heroes of the late war are being
planted generally throughout Amer
ica now. Lining roads with trees in
memory of the soldiers killed in
France was taken up also, the roads
r~fxv : L.
OF Remembrance"
The colleges have taken up me-
mortal tree planting with VIM The
University of Washington, at Seattle,
has planted IS trees in memory of the
81 men and one woman student who
gave UP their lives in the world war.
Hereafter on Armistice day addi-
tional trees Will be planted in MEM
ory of these student heroes, Novem-
ber being a good tree planting month
in the Northwest. Beside this tree
planting, the university dedicated
Memorial way, one of the main en-
frances to the campus
Pennsylvania State college is ar
ranging to plant trees in a giant "S'
on the shoulder of Nittany mountain,
where the trees can be observed from
the college campus.
What the Future Holds
In a generation or two, if the good
work is kept up-and it is sure to be
America will have escaped the
threat of deforestation it has faced
1t will produce all of the lumber II
needs and will be able to export some
without impairing the supply for the
future. There will be wooded and
beautiful breathing spaces through
out the land for people in cities as
we'll as in the country. And there
will be many miles of shaded high
way TO bring to memory those who
laid down their lives in France.
Mr. Morton, the father of Arbor
day, was born in New York state 30
years ago, He was educated In T.