MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 473 



said of these fires, " They are the best friends we had in clearing up the 

 country." 



The more students know about trees, the more they are likely to be 

 interested in this subject. They can in many ways be started in the right 

 road. Help them to recognize the different species, their names, their 

 anatomy and physiology, their rate of growth and geographical distribu- 

 tion, their special uses in the arts and in nature, how to raise trees from 

 the seeds, how to plant and where to plant, and why and especially how to 

 take proper care of them after setting. He who fully understands the 

 structure and functions of roots will never be seen carting living trees 

 with roots exposed to dry wind and sun for miles along the highway. 



How do trees grow ? How do they prepare for periods of rest ? The 

 biology of a tree is full of interest from seed to finish. Set pupils to hunt- 

 ing up the numerous accidents to which trees are exposed. Which trees 

 preserve their green leaves best in the shade? 



Observe and note all the trees and shrubs, their distribution, sizes and 

 condition on a definite small area, and present an essay after careful study 

 for a year or more. Study the effects of pasturing a wood lot by noting 

 examples of those pastured and those left to themselves. Try the ther- 

 mometer and hygrometer, and dig with the spade in the forest, in the 

 meadow and the well-tilled field. Estimate the amount and value of an 

 acre of good, medium or thin forest, and note the time required to produce 

 it. Note the effect of trees as a shelter along the highway, near dwellings, 

 barns and sheds. Select well grown trees for study. 



Why are certain trees found growing in swamps and others on dry land? 

 Why are there no pines or cedars in some neighborhoods, and no beeches 

 or maples in others? A study of these topics in a practical, observing way, 

 and changing opinions with some of your most intelligent friends will 

 usually lead to much better results than merely reading the best books 

 that can be procui-ed; though by all means read also. 



Besides the means suggested for aiding the cause, there are others. If 

 the programmes were judiciously prepared and well carried out, the cele- 

 bration of Arbor Day by school children would have a tendency to awaken 

 an enthusiasm among the people, but usually the exercises consist mainly 

 of quotations from literary authors, scraps of poetry, history and senti- 

 ment, rather than any substantial information pertaining to the growth and 

 care of trees, or the needs of forestry. 



The establishment of an arboretum, even a small one, on some of the 

 farms of enterprising people, and more especially at each agriculture col- 

 lege and experiment station, the planting of groves of all the kinds of trees 

 to be secured in the vicinity of school-houses, will all help educate and 

 interest the people. We cannot soon expect to see an Arnold arboretum 

 even in every state, but the beneficent influence of that garden has already 

 reached thousands of miles. The values of such plantings are many-sided 

 and far reaching. One good move leads to several others. 



Associations for securing the protection of certain private natural scen- 

 ery help to educate every one who sees the reserves or who reads about 

 them. 



Botanic gardens containing shrubs and trees are likely to increase in 

 numbers, each good one lending encouragement to others. So of herbaria, 

 and especially of museums of plant products which should contain no end 

 to interesting specimens of timber, not only those which were well grown, 



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