Rural School Leaflet 1077 



when the right day comes, every one can take part in the work. On 

 Arbor Day, exercises may be held celebrating the improvement of the 

 grounds. By that time, the trees and shrubs will be well started, and it 

 will be a satisfaction to see them actually growing. The exercises will be 

 better if they are not interrupted by heavy work. The spirit of Arbor 

 Day will still be there and will be stronger than ever because the results 

 will be plain to see. Planting and clearing up the yard ahead of time is 

 as important as learning songs and recitations ahead of time. It is part 

 of the preparation for a successftd Arbor Day. 



We hope that boys and girls will think about this and will talk it over 

 with their teacher. It is time that the schools should begin to see progress 

 as each Arbor Day comes round. 



The following suggestions will be helpful in the work of improving the 

 school grounds: 



The best trees to plant are elm, sugar (hard) maple, red oak, scarlet 

 oak for dry places, and pin oak for wet places. 



The best wild shrubs to plant, given in the order of their size from the 

 tallest to the lowest, are nannyberry, common elder, red-berried elder, 

 red-twigged dogwood, barberry, arrowwood, laurel (evergreen), wild 

 roses, fragrant sumac, and Japanese honeysuckle. 



The best wild vines to plant are Virginia creeper and climbing bitter- 

 sweet. 



The best cultivated shrubs to plant, given in order of their size from 

 the tallest to the lowest, are lilac, syringa, ibota privet, Van Houtt's 

 spirea, Japanese barberry, Indian currant, and snowberry. 



The l:)est cultivated vines to plant are Japanese clematis. Hall's 

 honeysuckle, and Boston ivy for brick and stone walls. 



In general trees should be planted near the boundaries of the school 

 ground, and an occasional tree in some suitable place in the open. No 

 tree should be planted nearer to the building than twenty feet. Whenever 

 possible a tree should be planted on the south or southwest side of the 

 building in order to provide protection from the sun. If the schoolhouse 

 is on an exposed site, trees that are planted on the windward side with 

 reference to the prevailing wind will serve as a windbreak. 



Shrubs usually look better planted in groups than singly. They should 

 always have some background, such as a building, an outbuilding, or 

 the boundary fence of the school property. Shrubs should be planted 

 according to their habits of growth, the low ones in the foreground, the 

 medium-sized ones next in order, and the tallest ones in the background. 



Vines are used as ornamental screens, and they need something to 

 support them. They are attractive when trained over porches, and they 

 are useful in screening outhouses. 



