NEW YORK STATE PROGRAMME 353 



especially prepared. The first may begin: "I am 

 the sugar maple," etc., other pupils speaking as 

 other trees. The following is given as an illustration 

 of this plan, adopted at Port Henry, N. Y., in 1888: 



"I am the sugar maple, and a favorite ornamental 

 tree. People love me because I am possessed of 

 sweetness. I claim to have made more boys and 

 girls happy than any other tree. I have many 

 changes of dress wearing in spring the softest 

 shade of every color, in the summer the purest 

 emerald, and in the autumn the most brilliant 

 yellow. My wood is used for furniture, floors, 

 and for furnishing the interior of houses, and 

 after the houses are finished, few can warm them 

 better than I." 



The expression in the opening sentence may be 

 varied, as "I am known as" "They call me," etc. 



Older pupils might interest themselves in organiz- 

 ing as a " Convention of Trees," each pupil represent- 

 ing a tree familiar in the locality, and to be called by 

 its name. Officers to be chosen by name of trees, and 

 remarks and discussions participated in by members 

 of the Convention, to be recognized by names of trees. 



Compositions may be prepared by older students 

 upon various subjects connected with trees; as, for 

 example, their uses for shade, for ornament, for 

 producing fuel, lumber, etc.; their influence in 

 increasing the rainfall, retaining moisture, modifying 

 the temperature, etc. ; their value in furnishing food, 



