ARBOR DAY MANUAL- 353. 



NEW YORK STATE PROGRAM, 1889. 



HOW TO PLANT TREES WHAT TO PLANT. 

 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



FORESTRY DIVISION. 

 CIRCULAR Xo. 5, 1889. 



ARBOR DAY PLANTING IN EASTERN STATES. 



The following circular has been prepared to answer inquiries from school 

 superintendents and other officials as well as private individuals who are inter- 

 ested in tree planting on Arbor Day. J. M. RUSK, 



Secretary. 



SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a circular giving brief instructions 

 on selection of trees and manner of planting for Arbor Day purposes, to answer 

 inquiries from school superintendents and others interested in Arbor Day. 



Respectfully, 

 Hon. J. M. RUSK. B. E. FERNOW, 



Secretary, Chief of Forestry Division. 



Introductory. Arbor Days in the Eastern States as a rule contemplate the 

 planting of shade and ornamental trees mainly for the sake of creating a senti- 

 ment and interest in tree planting and eventually in forest culture. 



The following suggestions do not refer to the educational features of Arbor 

 Day, but are meant to give in the briefest manner such general advice in regard 

 to the selection of trees for the occasion and to the manipulation of planting, 

 as may aid teachers, pupils and others to perform the practical work of Arbor 

 Day with reasonable hope of success. 



Time of Planting. The day set for Arbor Day and the weather on that day 

 may not always be the best for planting. Its fitness for an out-door celebration 

 should govern the choice, while the planting may be done at a more suitable 

 season. Spring, before the buds open (February to May) is as a rule the best 

 time for transplanting although with care it can be done all the year round 

 and a murky or cloud}' day is preferable to a sunny one for that operation. 



Choice of Trees : 



1. General Considerations. Trees for school grounds and yards, along road- 

 sides and streets, must be such as are least liable to suffer from injuries ; they 

 should be compact and symmetrical in shape, free from objectionable habits, 

 such as bad odors, root-sprouting, frequent dropping of parts, etc., and from 



insect pests, and if planted for shade, should have a broad crown and a dense 

 foliage, budding early in spring and retaining leaves long into the fall. Absence 

 of skillful hands at tree planting on Arbor Days would also limit the selection 

 to those which are transplanted easily and require the least care. 



Trees native to the region in which the planting is dene usually have more 

 promise of success and are generally less costly than exotics. Trees from well- 

 managed nurseries are preferable to those grown in the forest, because their 

 root-system is better prepared for transplanting. Rapidly-growing trees, al- 

 though giving shade soonest, are mostly short lived and become soonest un- 

 sightly. 



2. Size. Although as a rule small plants have a better promise of success, 

 other considerations recommend the choice of larger sizes for roadside and 



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