77^ 



Rural Sciiooi. Leaflet 



PLANTING TREES 







The Editor 



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^OYS and girls in rural districts have the 

 opportunity to give pleasure and profit 

 to themselves and to others by plant- 

 ing trees. Make the most of it. Tell 

 your father that you want to plant and 

 bud an apple tree each year, and ask him 

 to help you to decide on the place for your 

 trees. He will be glad to do this. Girls 

 as well as boys should try. 



An apple tree will unfold a story to the watchful boy or girl, which 

 will be as interesting as many stories in books: the effort of the young 

 tree to make a start in life; the first springtime when it shows itself ready 

 to take advantage of the sun and rain; the struggle with the storms; 

 the first blossoms; the first fruit. You will watch the insect enemies and 

 will protect the tree. Some day a robin will sing from its branches. In 

 future years a mother bird may find it a safe and sheltered place for her 

 home. Yes; you will want to plant a tree this year, and bud it when 

 the time comes. 



Read the following stanzas. You will then understand what one 

 naturalist felt as he stood in his own orchard. 



' For I planted these orchard trees myself 

 On hillside slopes that belong to me; 

 Where visions are wide and winds are free 

 That all the round year might come to my shelf. 



And there on my shelves the white winter through, 

 Pippin and Pearmain, Rambo, and Spy, 

 Greening and Swaar and Spitzenbergs lie 



With memories tense of sun and dew. 



They bring the great fields and the fence-rows here, 

 The ground-bird's nest and the cow-bell's stroke. 

 The tent-worm's web and the night-fire's smoke. 



And smell of the smartweed through all the year. 



They bring me the days when the ground was turned. 

 When the trees were pruned and tilled and sprayed. 

 When the sprouts were cut and grafts were made, 



When fields were cleaned and the brush-wood piles burned." 



L. H. Bailey 



