ARBOR DAY MANUAL. 359 



Specimen Programs. Port Henry, X. T. Continued. 



of the country are denuded. The streams which once flowed through oozy beds and 

 gathered contributions from every foot of progress now have dwindled to little rivulets, 

 which only show their strength when rain-storms fill their channels. 



Let us create a sentiment and enthusiasm in reference to restoring and preserving in 

 some reasonable degree the forests which the ignorance or the cupidity of preceding gen- 

 erations have destroyed. 



That vou are disposed to do your share under the law which the Legislature of this 

 State passed, is to me a great source of gratification. That you may be abundantly suc- 

 cessful, and that the scholars under your charge may find a true and noble satisfaction in 

 providing for their own pleasure, and the pleasure of the generations to follow them, is 

 the sincere wish of Yours sincerely, 



DAVID MURRAY. 



From Hon. B. G. Northrop, Clinton, Ct., to whom we are indebted for much of the in- 

 terest that is being taken in Arbor Day and tree culture throughout the country. 



CLINTON, CT., April 25, 1889. 



DEAR SIR Arbor Day for economic tree-planting was started seventeen years ago in 

 Nebraska, by ex-Governor J. Sterling Morton, whose efforts were seconded by the " State 

 Board of Agriculture" and " Board of Horticulture," liberal prizes being offered to the 

 counties that should do the most in this line So great enthusiasm was awakened that, 

 according to the official reports, more than 12,000,000 trees were planted on the first State 

 Arbor Day. The interest then awakened has continued and extended so that now there 

 are over 605,000,000 trees growing in Nebraska which were planted by human hands. 



The settler there who does not plant trees on his " section " is now the exception. The 

 Nebraskans now glory in the old name, " The Great American Desert," which for three 

 hundred miles west of the Missouri river has been made habitable and hospitable by tree- 

 planting and cultivation here. 



Kansas soon followed the example of Nebraska, and now rejoices in the growth and 

 influence of millions of planted trees. Two other Western States soon joined in this good 

 work. 



At the outset, " Arbor Day " in schools was not thought of, economic tree-planting 

 being the only aim. The progress of this work has been most gratifying. Less than 

 seven years ago a resolution in favor of observing Arbor Day in schools in every State, 

 which I offered in the American Forestry Congress, was unanimously adopted and a com- 

 mittee appointed to push that work. As their chairman, I have presented the subject 

 personally, or by letter, to the Governors of all our States and Territories, and now thirty- 

 four States are observing '' Arbor Day." 



This movement has spread across the continent, and individuals and railway companies 

 as well as States have shared in the work. Adolph Sutro, the millionaire of San Fran- 

 cisco, gave 60,000 small trees to the school children of that city to plant in the parks and 

 around the homes. 



California is teaching the East a much needed lesson in favor of planting very young 

 trees. The experience on the prairies and especially in the Trans-Missouri river States 

 is decisive on this subject. The many million trees now growing in Nebraska, Kansas, 

 and other Western States, as well as in California, were planted when mere saplings, they 

 are more easily dug up with all their capillary roots and more sure to grow. They cost 

 less and are more cheaply transplanted. Jn ten years, these saplings yearlings or " two- 

 year-olds " will overtake those ten or more years old when planted, and will be always 

 healthier and handsomer. I have tested this matter by giving some 11,000 small trees to 

 the citizens of Clinton, Ct., mostly to the school children, during the last seven years. 

 Few of these trees were over three years from the seed. The result has been most grati- 

 fying both in their beauty and rapidity of growth. 



One of the pleasant things in Arbor Day observance is the hearty co-operation often 

 shown by influential and wealthy citizens. Governor Pern- and State School Superin- 

 tendent Russell, of Florida, enlisted enthusiastically in the work of their first Arbor Day, 

 and the results were a most grateful surprise to them. So general was the interest that 

 Governor Perrv, in an official letter, congratulated the pupils and people of the State on 

 their grand response to his proclamation. 



The observance of Vermont's first Arbor Day was general and enthusiastic. In the 

 town of Rutland over 3.500 trees were set out, 2,000 of them in the new village of Proctor, 

 named from ex-Governor Proctor, now Secretary of War, who exerted himself success- 

 fully to make the day a jubilee for all. 



New York, if the last of the Northern States to pass an Arbor Day law, is foremost in 

 the thorough and liberal provisions of this act, making it the duty of the school authori- 

 ties throughout the Stale to provide such exercises on Arbor Day as shall tend to encour- 

 age scholars in the planting, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs, and gives 



