NOTES 457 



place on a strong fire, and after it has come to the boil, allow it to 

 remain boiling for at least half an hour; stir from time to time, and be 

 careful to stand on the side away from the fumes, as, being poisonous, 

 they are apt to cause sickness. When the arsenic is thoroughly dis- 

 solved, the solution may be made up to the required bulk by adding 

 the remainder of the water, either hot or cold. The whiting is added 

 merely to serve as an indicator of the trees treated, as it turns white 

 on drying. 



The best time for carrying on the operation of poisoning is when the 

 tree is dormant, or during the winter months. This will most surely 

 prevent suckering, although trees can be killed practically any time of 

 the year. 



In applying the poison, the tree is first girdled by a series of heavy 

 downward strokes of the ax through the bark and well into the wood, 

 leaving the chips protruding outward in a "frill" extending completely 

 around the tree. It is necessary that this "frilling" process be thor- 

 oughly done, which alone would ordinarily kill the tree after some 

 time. A half pint for small trees to a quart for very large trees of 

 the poi.son is then poured into the chipped surface, taking care to sat- 

 urate the wood thoroughly. An old teapot or kettle with a spout serves 

 well the purpose of pouring without needless waste or spilling down the 

 tree. Suplings may be cut off low down and the poison applied over 

 the stump by a swab stick. If this is done when the sap is down the 

 tree will be completely killed and suckering prevented. 



Arbor Day 



Observance of Arbor Day by the planting of trees dedicated to those 

 whose lives were sacrificed in the war is advocated by the Secretary of 

 Agriculture in a letter to the governors of the States, as follows : 



"The observance of Arbor Day began soon after the Civil War. A distin- 

 guished citizen of Nebraska, who later became Secretary of Agriculture, was the 

 prime mover in securing its recognition within his State, where it first took root; 

 and the Board of Agriculture of that State, on his motion, designated the first 

 Arbor Day. From the beginning it has had a civic motive and an association of 

 patriotism. 



"Another and greater war has come to its inevitable conclusion. The cause of 

 righteousness, of liberty, of all that Americans hold dear, has prevailed. We shall 

 seek many ways to perpetuate the memory of those who made the great sacrifice. 

 The memorials will take many forms. The names of those who have fallen will 

 be perpetuated by costly monuments and inscribed on enduring tablets. Great 

 works that serve the needs of peace also will doubtless be dedicated to them. 



"But along with these memorials we can easily discover ways in which we may 



