ARBOR DAY PLANTING 



The Minnesota Forest Service is desirous of giving 

 assistance in any project which contemplates the plant- 

 ing of trees and the better care of woodlots ; and Arbor 

 Day furnishes a splendid opportunity to impress upon 

 the people of the State, and especially the school child- 

 ren, the importance and value of our forests. Tradi- 

 tion states that Arbor Day had its real origin in the 

 fifth century, when the entire population of a little 

 Swiss village, having determined that there should be 

 an oak grove in the public square, carefully dug up 

 saplings in the woods and transplanted them. For 

 years afterward the anniversary of this tree planting 

 was observed by the people with appropriate exercises. 



In recognition of the great importance of planting 

 trees to beautify our roads and grounds, April has been 

 designated as Arbor Day in Minnesota. The school 

 grounds offer a convenient and often the most needful 

 place in which to do the initial planting. From there, 

 as time goes on, additional planting may be done along 

 the roads approaching the school, about the grounds 

 at home, and wherever trees are needed. If every 

 three or four pupils in each class should plant one vig- 

 orous tree of a desirable kind in a suitable place, what 

 happy satisfaction they will feel afterward, and how 

 many in the years to come will bless their work ! 



In order to have success, the planting must be caiv- 

 fully done, and the trees given proper cultivation and 

 care for several years after being set out. Too often 

 Arbor Day has seen the removal of live trees from 1lie 

 woods only to make dead ones of them on the sehool 



