INTRODUCTION xv 



when, on April 30, the following act was approved 

 by the governor: 



SECTION i. The Friday following the first day of May in each 

 year shall hereafter be known throughout this state as Arbor Day. 

 2. It shall be the duty of the authorities of every public school 

 in this State, to assemble the scholars in their charge on that day 

 in the school building, or elsewhere, as they may deem proper, 

 and to provide for and conduct, under the general supervision of 

 the city superintendent or the school commissioner, or other chief 

 officers having the general oversight of the public schools in each 

 city or district, such exercises as shall tend to encourage the plant- 

 ing, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs, and an 

 acquaintance with the best methods to be adopted to accomplish 

 such results. 



3. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have 

 power to prescribe from time to time, in writing, a course of 

 exercises and instruction in the subjects hereinbefore mentioned 

 which shall be adopted and observed by the public school authori- 

 ties on Arbor Day, and upon receipt of copies of such course, 

 sufficient in number to supply all the schools under their super- 

 vision, the school commissioner or city superintendent aforesaid, 

 shall promptly provide each of the schools under his or their charge 

 with a copy, and cause it to be adopted and observed. 



"By a popular vote the pupils of the state schools 

 of New York decided that the white elm was the 

 tree and the rose the flower of the state. They are 

 therefore called upon to do all in their power to 

 increase the number of both by planting them on 

 Arbor Day. With this object in view, Central Park 

 and the big pleasure grounds in the upper part of 

 the city are thrown open to them. Small parties 

 of tree planters start from most of the uptown 

 schools in the afternoon, and go to some nook chosen 



