562 ] oHrnal of Agriculture. [9 Sept.. 190; 



Arbor Dav was originated in America, in 1872. bv the Nebraska State 

 Board of Agriculture, at the instance of Mr. J. Sterling Morton, and from 

 its inception has been remarkably successful. Nebraska was later, by 

 legal authority, designated the " Tree Planteir's State." Throughout 

 the United States, Arbor Day is now systematically observed, and bv 

 securing the active co-operation of the schools, colleges, and universities, 

 a great interest in tree planting has been fostered, and a wonderful success 

 achieved ; in many States, Arbor Dav is a recognised public holidav. It 

 has been officially recorded that the inauguration of this mo\'ement by Mr. 

 Morton, Avho subsequently became Secretary of Agriculture, "has done 

 more for the protection of forests and the encouragement of tree planting 

 than all our legislation." 



I venture to suggest the introduction of the competitive system in 

 Victoria. Would it not be an appropriate work for Agricultural Societies 

 in their respective districts to arrange competitions, offering prizes for the 

 l>est planted farms, and framing suitable conditions under which the 

 prizes would be awarded. In the year 1883, Dr. L. L. Smith read a 

 paper before the National Agricultural Society of Victoria, in which he 

 pointed out the evil results likely to follow the wholesale destruction of 

 timber, and submitted a very ambitious proposal to provide a large fund 

 by subscriptions from all classes for the purpose of giving very generou.s. 

 prizes for the best tree plantations. His proposal, however, met with ver\ 

 little encouragement or support, though consistent planting has been vmder- 

 taken by many land-owners. In the United States, practical eft'ect has 

 been given to the idea of competitive planting. Valuable prizes are offered 

 for the planting of certain varieties of trees. Australian eucalypts, 

 particularly the blue gum, are extensively planted in California, and the 

 State laws of Ulonois, Missouri, and Iowa, specially encourage tree 

 planting. 



Again, the scrupulous protection of trees growing on country roads is 

 worthy of the attention of Municipal Councils, and I commend to the 

 notice of councillors present, the action of a certain Shire Council, which, 

 having decided by a majority vote, to sell for milling purposes, the fine 

 red gum trees growing on country roads, resolved, on the remonstrance of 

 the Lands Department, not to permit any trees to be removed, unless tc 

 meet the requirements of traffic. INIany years ago, in the State of 

 California, the County Boards were empowered to authorize land-o>vners 

 to plant trees of specified varieties on the public highwaxs, and, after 

 four years, if conditions as to spacing, distance from road formation, and 

 satisfactory growth were certified to as having been complied with, a 

 payment of one dollar per tree could be made. This is in marked con- 

 trast to our Victorian experience, where the trees on so' many of our j-uljic 

 roads are ruthlesslv sacrificed to the greed of the land-owner, by whom 

 a more or less scanty growth near his boundary line is regarded a.^ iull 

 justification for secret ring-barking. 



The clearing of river reserves, particularly in our northern districts, 

 should be discouraged in every possible way. Be if ahvavs remembered 

 that a well-grown tree represents nature's work of man\ years, and to 

 needlessly destroy such a work is utterly wrong. This clearing of reserves 

 is a distinct illegality, and treated as such. 



The notes prepared, at my request, by Mr. Johnstone, officer in 

 charge of State Plantations, at Creswick, were published with my previous 

 paper, and are well worthy of careful i)erusal, as they indicate what, 

 when, and Avhere to plant, and are the ojoinions of an expert. A farmer 



