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LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Washington, D. (7., January 29, 1896. 



SIR : I have the honor to submit the accompanying bulletin on Arbor 

 Day, prepared by your direction. 



Its aim is to give an authentic account of the origin, history, and 

 uses of the day now observed throughout our country and also in 

 other lands which has been regarded with interest by the Department 

 ever since its observance began, and to offer such suggestions and helps 

 as may serve to increase its usefulness. 



It is impossible to sketch the history of Arbor Day in even the brief- 

 est manner without frequent reference to the present Secretary of the 

 Department, with whom the day is so' intimately connected. If the 

 writer of this bulletin had felt at liberty to disregard the restraints 

 imposed by the official character of the work, a much more frequent 

 mention of Mr. Morton's name would have been the result. 



Some of the illustrations in the bulletin, especially those of leaves, 

 are from Apgar's Trees of the Northern United States, copyright, 1892, 

 by the American Book Company, to whom thanks are due for permis- 

 sion to use them, it having been found impracticable to prepare original 

 figures of this character without delaying the bulletin until after the 

 arrival of the time set apart in many States for the observance of Arbor 

 Day. Similar thanks are due to others also for like favors. 



I take occasion here also to thank the superintendents of public 

 instruction and others who have so readily and courteously responded 

 to my invitation and rendered aid, by suggestion or otherwise, in the 

 preparation of this publication. Wherever material from such or other 

 sources has been incorporated in these pages I have endeavored to give 

 credit to the respective authors. For the rest the writer is responsible. 



Respectfully, 



K. H. EGKLESTON. 



Hon. CHAS. W. DABNEY, Jr., 



Assistant Secretary. 



