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ARBOR DA y MANUAL. 
Written for the “Arbor Day Manual.” 
ARBOR DAY. 
ITS EDUCATING INFLUENCE. 
T HE observance of Arbor Day has already led to the planting of myriads of 
trees in this country. Important as is this result, the educating influence of 
this work is of still higher value. One of these educating forces begins when 
children are thus led to plant not only trees, but tree-seeds, acorns, nuts, drupe- 
stones or pits, and then to observe the wonderful miracles which the tree-life 
they have started is working out before them. What interest and profit, what 
growth of mind and heart they will gain, as the}'' watch the mysterious forces- 
of these living germs, their marvelous assimilating power, carrying on a curious- 
chemistry in their underground laboratory, linked with the mysterious appa¬ 
ratus of the leaves above, transforming coarse earth and even offensive filth 
into living forms of surpassing beauty and fragrance. It is something for a 
child, who has dropped such a germ in the earth, to feel that he has made a 
lasting contribution to the natural beauty around him, for there is nothing 
more ennobling than the consciousness of doing something for future genera¬ 
tions, which may prove a growing benefaction in coming years — a better 
monument than any in bronze or marble. The trees which children plant 
around the homestead and watch from seed to shoot, from bud to limb, and 
from flower to fruit, will be increasingly prized with a sentiment of companion¬ 
ship and almost of kinship as they grow into living memorials of happy, 
youthful days. Thus, the educating influences of Arbor Day will manifest 
themselves more and more as the years go by, especially to all who apply Dr. 
Holmes’ advice, and “make trees monuments of history and character,” or 
appreciate his saying, “ I have written many verses, but the best poems I have 
produced are the trees I have planted,” or the striking words of Sir Walter, 
“ Planting and pruning trees I could work at from morning till night. There 
is a sort of self-congratulation, a little tickling self-flattery in the idea that 
while you are pleasing and amusing yourself, you are seriously contributing to 
the future welfare of the country.” 
As a result of Arbor Day, talks on trees and tree-planting are now common, 
in our best schools. Every pupil should be led to observe, recognize and 
admire our common trees, and thus come to realize that they form the finest 
drapery that adorns this earth in all lands. Such love of trees will tend to- 
make them practical arborists. Let the parent as well as teacher, then* 
encourage every child—girl or boy — to plant, or help in planting, if too- 
young to work alone, some flower, shrub, vine or tree, to be known by his or 
her name. Such offspring they will watch with pride, as every month or year 
new beauties appear, and find a peculiar pleasure in the parentage of trees, 
whether forest, fruit or ornamental, a pleasure that never cloys, but grows 
with their growth. Such tree-planting is a grand discipline in foresight. 
Mental myopia means weakness and folly, while the habit of forecasting con 
sequences is the condition of wisdom. Many youth will sow only where they 
can quickly reap. With them a meagre crop soon in hand outweighs a golden. 
