Z77 



Arbor Day in Hawaii 



By C. S. JuDD, Superintendent of Forestry. 



The custom of naming a special day for tree planting had its 

 origin in Nebraska where the farmers on the wind-swept prairies 

 sorely felt the need of windbreaks and woodlot products. 

 Through the efforts of Gov. J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day was 

 inaugurated and was first celebrated in 1872 when a million 

 trees were planted in Nebraska alone. On Arbor Day in 1874, 

 over twelve million trees were planted in this same state. 



Since then, the celebration of Arbor Day has become general 

 in most of the states and is a day specially named by the Gov- 

 ernor of the state for tree planting. It is a day set apart to 

 stimulate and encourage the planting of trees wherever they are 

 needed and to remind everyone of the importance of trees, on 

 account of their great and varied usefulness. 



On the mainland Arbor Day is usually celebrated in the spring 

 just as early as the ground can be worked, after there is no fur- 

 ther danger from frosts. Here in Hawaii it has been found that 

 the best time for tree planting is just before the fall rainy season 

 begins, and this year the Governor has proclaimed November 17 

 as Arbor Day. 



Arbor Day is preeminently a school celebration for ''What you 

 would have appear in the nation's life, you must introduce into 

 the public schools." Very much has been done in beautifying 

 school grounds through observance of the day, and very much 

 more will be accomplished as the educational features of the 

 occasion develop broadly. 



In Hawaii Arbor Day was first observed on November 3, 1905. 

 when Governor Carter generously contributed half of a fund 

 for a prize of $5 for each of the 154 public schools, to be given 

 to the grade whose planting on Arbor Day secured the most suc- 

 cessful results. On that day 3,554 trees were distributed from 

 the Government Nursery in Honolulu for planting and the fol- 

 lowing table shows how the observance of Arbor Day has be- 

 come more popular and has continued in favor: 



Trees Distributed From Government Nurseries in Hazvaii For 

 Planting on Arbor Day. 



1905 3,554 



1906 2,580 



1907 1,524 



1908 15.703 



1909 63,614 



1910 30,482 



191f 11,508 



