316 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



will be pleased to cause copies of these reports, as far as issued and 

 available, to be donated to this library, to be placed on our shelves for 

 future reference. 



This is, 1 may add, a Free Public Library devoted entirely to pat- 

 ents and scientific literature, being visited by over 400 readers daily. 



I am yours faithfully, 



Herbt. Jno. Allison, Librarian. 



Arbor Day 



Should not be a spasmodic effort at the planting of trees or of orna- 

 menting our yards, lawns, school-grounds or parks, but should simply 

 be the outgrowth or the outward expression of a desire to beautify our 

 surroundings, and the result of the year's thought. 



Arbor day was instituted by the present Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture, J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska, 1874, and was continued the 

 next year by enactment of the Legislature. 



The year following, Kansas and Minnesota observed the day also. 

 Now some 26 states observe the day, and it is continuing to spread 

 over our land until we hope it will be a day of national importance. 



The first requisite of successful Arbor days and the results to 

 follow from it, is an intelligent knowledge of tree growth, and how to 

 plant and grow the trees after planting. 



While the final result cannot be anything but good, yet it could be 

 a hundred-fold better if we could instill into the minds of those plant- 

 ing, that care and common sense is necessary to the successful planting. 

 It is well to teach that the roots are the parts that grow in the ground, 

 and are as necessary to the life of the tree as are the mouths of ani- 

 mals. 



We want them to learn that the roots should not be exposed to 

 the air any longer than is absolutely necessary, that every moment of 

 exposure is that much loss of vitality ; that the roots need protection 

 every moment from the sun and air to make a successful growth; that 

 the roots are more important than the top, and should be just as large 

 and long as can be obtained ; that the roots will make the top, but that 

 the top can make the roots only as the roots respond to their call for 

 moisture and food. 



The second lesson is intimated in the last expression. Some trees, 

 especially the hard- wood trees, should be cut back just as little as 

 possible to maintain the equilibrium of root and top. In all trees like 



