IRISH ("JARDF.NING. 



NOVKMHKR 



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Arhoi" I)a\/ 



THK Irislj I-oicsiiy Soticly is anxious lliat llio 

 iiiloresl now aroiiseil in llic niovemenl for ii-- 

 plaiilinK 'Ii»J waste lands in Iii-laiul should not 

 lu- allow od lo Hai,'-, and tliov solicit the oo-opeialion of 

 all who liave llio beauty of our eouiUry and the welfare 

 vif its inhabitants at heart, in the foinidintf ol' a national 

 Arbor or Tree-planting Day. it is not clainud that ihi- 

 planting; of trees under any Arbor Day niovenient will, 

 in itself, reclothe our waste lands witli forests. We 

 are eonvinced thai this can only be done effectively by 

 the Government, who possess not only the means of 

 carrving it out. but who can also afford to wait the 

 necessarv len^^th of time for a rclurn from I ree-plantini; 

 operations. 



The widespread celebration oi an .Arbor Day would 

 stimulate the interest of the people themselves in this 

 j^reat question, and //tey should take it up and force it 

 on the attention of the Government. This was done in 

 the United States some thirty years ;ii,'o. when Julius 

 Slirliny^ Morton inaugurated the .Arbor Day in the Stale 

 o( Nebraska, in the year 1S7.!. The State Legislature 

 look it up. proclaimed a State Holiday for planting, and 

 gave prizes and land ; the result was that in the State 

 of Nebraska alone more than six hundred million trees 

 have been planted since 1S7J. The movement soon 

 spread to the other States, with the result that enormous 

 numbers of trees now grow and flourish in .America that 

 never would have been planted but for .Arbor Day. 



.Acting on this great example we confidently appeal 

 to all the bishops and clergy of Ireland, schoolmasters, 

 county technical instruction committees, the represen- 

 tative bodies, borough councils, members of the Gaelic 

 League, and the general public, to focus public attention 

 on this subject by co-operating in the foundation and 

 celebration of an annual .Arbor Day 



.After careful consideration the society recommends 

 the last three days of October and the first four days of 

 November as the most suitable week in which .Arbor 

 Day should be celebrated, and the local bodies may 

 select any day within that week, or in fact during the 

 month of November, as may best suit their own locality. 

 This week was also selected by the Gaelic League, and 

 is, on the whole, the best time in which to carry out 

 planting operations. 



* .\ Manifesto issued by the Irisli Forestry Society, 12 College 

 Green, Dublin. 



ll is desir.ible thai, where pi>ssible, individu.ils shoulil 

 I i>mbine together for the purpose of planting tiieir trees 

 in suitable groups. Trees thus pl.inted would have .t 

 muih better effect than if doited about as isolateil 

 specimiMis, ;ind more wiilespread inleiest in tlie movi • 

 nient \m>uUI be .irouseii. 



We believe ihe iile.i woukl bi- warmly taken up l'\ 

 the people y.^K Irel.md. .itui that ihe trees so plant..! 

 w.Mild not only be saved from molestation, but would be 

 u. Itched with pride and pleasure as they grew in beauty 

 ;iiul luxuri.mce. 



Irel.ind, o\\^:c called " Mis n:i l"iilb.i." the Island of 

 til.' W'o.hIs, and praiseil by har.l .mil poet as the beauty 

 spot .W till- world, now lies under the stigma of having 

 the l.-ast per.iiilage .if l.ind under trees of any country 

 in l-lurope. Arbor Day would, we believe, have Ihe 

 effect oi bringing about such an extensive planting of 

 trees as would take away this reproach, and regain for 

 us our ancient fame .iniougsl llie nations. 



Where any doubt or uncertainty exists the Irish 

 Forestry Society will be pleased to advise as to the 

 best means to adopt lo carry out Ihe idea o'i an .\rbor 

 D.iy, and will be i;lad to give expert information as 

 regards the kinds of trees best suited to any parli.ul.n 

 soil or position. 



It is desirable that the society shoulil be informed 

 ^•''i anv .Arbor Day celebration which may be organised 

 throughout the coimtry. 



The response to the society's circular last year w.i > 

 extremely gratifying, the result being that manysuccess- 

 lul celebrations of Arbor Day took place throughout the 

 country, thousands of trees being planted ; whilst at 

 Hray His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and the 

 Countess of .Aberdeen took the leading part and great 

 ]->ersonal interest in the jiromolion of the move- 

 ment. 



So.MK Si iit;i:silo.Ns. — .As .1 few among m;in\ ohje. 1 -- 

 which may be carried out by an Arbor Day celcbr.ition. 

 the following may be cited as examples : - 



1. Corporations might plant the principal streets ol a 

 town or any waste land under their control. 



J. Schoolmasters might beautify the surroundings of 

 their schoolhouses or playgrounds. 



T,. Many cemeteries and burial grounds through the 

 country, which at present are bare and neglected, could 

 be planted with trees and shrubs, and by this means be 

 very greatly improved in appearance. 



4! The anniversaries of notable historic events could 

 be commemorated by the planting of clumps of trees in 

 suitable places. 



^. The surroundings of churches, hosplials, convents, 

 workhouses, factories, creameries, &c., all lend them- 

 selves admirably to the purpose of adornment with tree.-* 

 and shrubs. 



6. Individuals might plant around their own houses, 

 each member of a family planting on^t or more 

 trees. 



The Department of .Agriculture issue several leaflets 

 dealing with the planting of trees for profit, shelter or 

 ornament, and any of these will be sent, post free, on 

 application to the Secretary, Upper Merrion Street, 

 Dublin. The most useful are leaflets Nos. 65, 66, 68, 

 and 70. 



