72 ARBOR DAY. 



ing beautiful shade trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Arbor 

 Day was first celebrated in Missouri April 15, 1886. 

 But little was done, and work did not really commence 

 until the spring of 1887. In March of that year the 

 state superintendent of public instruction sent out a circu- 

 lar requesting the cooperation of the teachers and pupils, 

 with their parents, in planting trees and decorating the 

 school grounds. A list of the most desirable trees with 

 directions for planting them was given, and the suggestion 

 made that appropriate literary exercises form part of the 

 programme of the day. 



ORGANIZATION NEEDED. The public must be aroused 

 and interested in the work before Arbor Day can be made 

 a success. The first step should be to call a meeting and 

 appoint a committee to stir up those who did not attend. 

 Posters should be invested in liberally and the aid of the 

 press invoked, while effective personal work should not 

 be neglected. The laying out of grounds and planting 

 should be placed in charge of the committee, or better 

 still, put in the hands of some competent and experienced 

 person. 



THE LAWN AND WALKS. The grounds should first 

 be graded and put in proper shape, and the graded por- 

 tion covered with good surface soil. When the size of 

 the yard will admit a well-kept lawn will add much to 

 the appearance of the grounds. For seeding, blue grass, 



