STATE po:mological society. 65 



cultural Department remarks very properly, "The way has thus been 

 opened for getting the facts relating to tree growth and the practical 

 uses of trees before the minds of old and young alike, and for 

 creating and diffusing through the community a sentiment which 

 promises much good to the cause of forestry. It i% this educational 

 aspect which makes Arbor Day a specially desirable means of forestry 

 reform." 



OUR RELATIONS TOWARD THE DAY. 



Nothing is more appropriate than that the Maine State Pomological 

 Society should be among the foremost advocates of tree planting, 

 both for ornament and utility. Our name does not imply anvthing 

 beyond the growing of fruits, but it has always been our custom to 

 consider the culture of flowers, shrubs and trees as forming part of 

 our legitimate field of work. Having this in view I have taken the 

 liberty to address you upon this subject. 



Having considered the objects of Arbor Day, I will now offer 

 some suggestions as to its appropriate observance in tlie State. 



THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE SHOULD LEAD OFF. 



You have already noted that it was a Board of Agriculture that 

 first instituted a general observance of Arbor Day. This suggests 

 that inasmuch as our Board of Agriculture is the organized repre- 

 sentative of our agricultural industries, it should lead off in the 

 appropriate observance of Arbor Day in the State. The various 

 State institutions, so far as I have visited them are quite generally 

 surrounded by thrifty shade trees, and many of the grounds are 

 beautifully laid out. But there are other places that need decora- 

 tion, and it would be a pleasure to have the Board unite with some 

 local body of less importance each year and make Arbor Day a grand 

 and important event for agriculture in that neighborhood. Of course 

 in connection with the observance of Arbor Day tree planting, tree 

 culture, and forestry should be made most prominent in the pro- 

 gramme, but as supplementary to these, the presence of a large 

 number m-dy be taken advantage of, and some of the best institute 

 work of the entire season might be sandwiched in with the other 

 exercises. The day comes when the farmers are very busy, you 

 saj' ; so does the Fourth of July and circus, when even those who 

 have compunctions about entering the canvas, harness up and come 

 out to show the children the street parade. Timely topics could be 



