282 



Bulletin i6o. 





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The mere planting of trees and shrubs is the smaller part of 

 the problem. — Arbor day has emphasized the mere planting of 



trees. Fortunately, 

 many of the trees do 

 not live. They are 

 too often put in the 

 wrong places. If the 

 love of trees could be 

 combined with some 

 purpose in the plant- 

 ing, the results would 

 be much better. Fig. 

 3 1 suggests Arbor Day 

 planting ; and this is 

 certainly much better 

 than nothing. These 

 four trees will be useful in their present positions, but the place 

 will still remain bare. The great thing — the border planting — 

 has been omitted, and the incidental thing has been done. 



Observe how the long foliage-mass adds charm to Fig. 32. A 

 row is better than mere scattered trees. But even this planting 

 is not ideal. Heavy planting should have been made along the 

 fence beyond the schoolhouse. There are too many trees between 

 the border row and the house, although this is not a serious 

 fault. A few bushes and vines would relieve the barrenness of 

 the house ; so would one or two trees close against the house on 

 the side next the road. But this place is so much more attrac- 

 tive than most rural school premises that one ought not to find 

 fault with it. 



30. — A border planting of trees. 



d. HOW TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS. 



Every effort should be exerted to do the woi'k well in the begin- 

 ning. If all preparations are thoroughly considered, and the 

 details carried out with care, the premises should become more 

 attractive j^ear by year with almost no annual outlay of labor. 

 The school grounds should be able to take care of themselves 

 when once the place is set in order. Of course, better results 



