ARBOR DAY ITS HISTORY AND OBSERVANCE. 21 



is to liave the pupils interested in what they do, and if they are taken 

 into confidence by the teacher and invited to offer suggestions, they 

 will often make a plan so sensible and satisfactory as almost to relieve 

 the teacher from any burden of care in regard to it. 



Of course it is presumed that the pupils are, to some extent, pre- 

 pared beforehand for the celebration of Arbor Day by having it spoken 

 of by the teacher and its objects explained, and that there has been 

 more or less talk on the part of the teacher and readings about trees 

 and plants and some familiarity with them and with the elements, at 

 least, of vegetable physiology. It is supposed also that the history 

 and character of distinguished persons in honor of whom it is proposed 

 to plant trees will have been studied. 



As the time of celebration draws nigh, therefore, let there be a con- 

 ference between teacher and pupils as to the method to be adopted. 

 First, as to the tree planting. Where is it to be on the school ground 

 or on some highway, or in some park 1 ? Is it to be done by the school or 

 schools alone, or in cooperation with a larger general movement of the 

 inhabitants of the place for the improvement of its appearance by a 

 systematic planting of trees on the streets and elsewhere? How many 

 trees will the school undertake to plant? What kinds of trees will 

 they plant? The decision of the last question will depend upon 

 where the planting is to take place and whether it is to be done by the 

 school alone or in concert with others. If the planting is to be upon the 

 school premises, it may be desirable to plant different trees from those 

 which might be selected for the street or the park. If the planting is 

 to be done in concert with others, a village improvement society for 

 instance, then the choice of trees will properly be left to such society. 



But these preliminary questions having been decided, in order that 

 all may go smoothly on Arbor Day, and to provide against the impedi- 

 ments of unfavorable weather at that time, it is desirable to have a com- 

 mittee of the older pupils appointed to see that the designated trees are 

 procured beforehand, and that holes are properly prepared for their recep- 

 tion, so that there may be no unnecessary delay at the time of planting. 



These arrangements having been made, it remains to be decided with 

 what ceremonies or exercises the tree planting shall be accompanied. 

 The programme in this respect will be more or less elaborate according 

 to the age of the pupils, the customs of the place, and the extent to 

 which the Arbor Day spirit has been already developed. But let it be 

 remembered that this is eminently the children's day, and that we all 

 like ceremonies, on special occasions at least. And if the grown-up 

 man needs drum and fife, epaulets and plumes and banners, and the 

 measured march and countermarch to make his soldiering satisfactory, 

 the children may well be invited on Arbor Day to march along the 

 streets to the music of their own familiar songs, wearing such scarfs 

 and badges as they choose to decorate themselves with, and carrying 

 aloft their banners with the pride of young patriots and scholars. 



