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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Two orders. 



(b) Distribution of Forest Tree Seeds and Seedlings to Schools. 

 Thinking our public schools might be interested in having 

 some seeds and seedlings for educational purposes, the following 

 letter was addressed to each superintendent in the State : — 



To School Superintendents. 



In connection with the State forest service we have a forest nursery, 

 and it has occurred to me that there are schools that would derive a 

 great deal of knowledge and economic benefit from having a small col- 

 lection of forest tree seedlings growing in the school grounds or in the 

 school gardens where they are already established. 



Forestry is a subject worthy of promotion, and the simple A B C of 

 forestry can well be begun with our school children. Trees have much 

 of interest in them at any time of the year, and hence can be studied at 

 any season. There is wide interest at present in school gardening; if to 

 it we add some forest nursery work, making it a year-round affair and a 

 perennial rather than for a short season each year, I am sure it will be a 

 happy improvement. 



Make it a plan to have the children collect tree seeds when they are 

 ripe; then plant and care for the seedlings, ultimately transplanting 

 them upon our many thousand acres of waste land in all sections of our 

 Commonwealth. Some seeds, like the acorn and chestnut, may be 

 planted directly where they are to grow. 



