Forest Fires and their Prevention. 35 



arbor day. 



Probably tbe best and most attractive as well as tlie most practical way 

 just at present, to inculcate a knowledge and love of trees among even the 

 smallest cbuldren, is to make the observance of Arbor Day an annual 

 feature in all the schools of the State. This would reach all of the chil- 

 dren of the State once each year and would give them information in a 

 form in which it would be remembered. 



FcAv children, or grown people either for that matter, can distinguish a 

 longleaf from a shortleaf pine seedling, know the conditions most favor- 

 able for the best growth of even our commonest forest trees, or can tell 

 one oak or one pine from another by the bark, the buds, the leaves or the 

 fruit. 



In order to foster a love of trees among children and to teach them 

 elementary facts about them, as well as to encourage the planting of 

 trees and the intelligent care of forests by their elders, the practice of 

 observing Arbor Day has been introduced into nearly every State in the 

 Union, and in many States it is a legal school festival. In ISTorth Caro- 

 lina the day was observed as far back as 1893, but unfortunately it has 

 never received general recognition. Only a school here and there has 

 observed the day with appropriate exercises, when some of the teachers 

 or patrons have been especially interested in the subject. 



In 1896 the School Committee of the town of Durham passed a law 

 providing : 



Section 1. That tlie second Friday in April of each year shall hereafter be 

 known in the Durliam Public Schools as Arbor Day. 



Sec. 2. In order that the children in our jniblic schools shall assist in the 

 work of adorning the school grounds with trees, shrubs and flowers, to develop 

 and stimulate a love and reverence for nature, to inculcate economic and 

 testhetic purposes which will result in beautifying the home and increasing the 

 comfort and happiness of our people, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent of 

 Schools to provide for and conduct such exercises as shall best accomplish these 

 results. 



An Arbor Day program was prepared and published in a twelve-page 

 leaflet. This program, as carried out on April 10, 1896, is here given, 

 by headings, in order to convey to those who have never attended such a 

 celebration some idea of how attractively it may be carried out. 



Durham Public Schools. 



ARBOR DAY. 



Assembly Hall, April 10, 1896. 



1. Music Orchestra 



2. Arbor Daj^ Song. 



3. Responsive Exercises (in the words of Scripture). 



