INTRODUCTION. 



Arbor Day, from being only a humble expedient of one of our 

 Western States a few years ago, has become a national holiday and one 

 of our important institutions. Its original design has been modified 

 since its observance has become associated with our schools. It is now 

 not only a day for tree planting for economic and aesthetic purposes, but 

 its observance has been made the means of securing much valuable 

 knowledge in regard to plant and tree life, of cultivating in the young 

 the powers of observation, and kindling in their minds an interest in 

 natural objects which will be a lifelong source of benefit and pleasure. 



Is it too much to hope, also, that this Arbor Day festival, engaging 

 our children in its observance so generally and so pleasantly with songs, 

 recitations, and the planting of trees and shrubs around the school- 

 houses and along the streets or in public parks and other places, may 

 have the effect of developing in coming generations a keener apprecia- 

 tion of the value and the beauty of trees than has hitherto been felt in 

 our country, and that thus the reckless destruction of our forests, now 

 going on with such threatening consequences, may be arrested before 

 the calamities are upon us which have befallen other countries through 

 the loss of their trees I 



