ARBOft DAY ITS HISTORY AND OBSERVANCE. 



59 



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only the pistillate trees, as the odor is noticeable from the staminate 

 trees only. Proi'essor Sargent speaks of the ailanthns as " probably the 

 best street tree that has ever been used in northern cities." 



PLANTING ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. 



Where Arbor Day is observed by the schools it will, perhaps, seem 

 that tree planting' on the school grounds deserves consideration before 

 planting on the street borders; but the two are nearly related. If an 

 attempt is made to plant around the schoolhouse, some street planting 

 will almost necessarily be done in 

 connection with it. Certainly the 

 pupils of any school should be en- 

 couraged to plant trees about the 

 building to which they come day 

 after day and where so much of 

 their time is spent. They should 

 be encouraged to make it beauti- 

 ful and attractive now with foli- 

 age and flowers, and a place to 

 which they may look back in after 

 life with pleasant memories. 



Even the smallest school ground 

 is large enough to admit some em- 

 bellishment of tree or shrub, and 

 even a single tree will add attract- 

 iveness to the place. Such a tree 

 planted by the children them- 

 selves will be regarded as their 

 common property. All will be in- 

 terested in it and will combine to 

 protect it and give it all needed 

 care. In so doing they will learn 

 manifold ICSSODS in regard to tree 



growth and habits, in regard also to the ways of the birds and insects 

 which will frequent it. While they are cultivating the tree they may 

 also be cultivating in themselves the best traits of character and gain- 

 ing as much as from their books. But it is to be hoped that most of 

 our school grounds are ample enough to admit of a considerable number 

 of trees arid shrubs and flowery plants besides. Then there will be 

 opportunity for planting a variety of trees and for a careful study in 

 order to select the best, both for beauty and for adaptation to the place 

 where they are to stand and grow. Care should be taken that the plant- 

 ing of the school grounds shall not be done hastily or without due con- 

 sideration, nor that too much be done in a single season. Leave some 

 work to be done in coming years to give new zest to the Arbor Day 

 exercises. One tree well chosen and well planted is worth a dozen or a 

 score selected and planted as trees often are. 



