ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 
363 
NEW YORK STATE PROGRAM, 1889. 
SHADE-TREE PLANTING ASSOCIATION. 
SUGGESTIONS BY J. L. BAGG, SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
As an excellent means of securing the planting of shade trees, it is suggested that a “ Shade-Tree Planting 
.Association ” be organized in each school district in the county for the purpose of securing the planting of 
•trees along all the vacant roadsides in the district. Unless the grown-up people of the district shall promptly 
move in this matter, let the association be formed by the school children of the district, both girls and boys. 
They, of course, will commence the work by planting trees around their own school-house. They might 
not, themselves, be able to pull up the trees in the forest, but they could readily get their big broth¬ 
ers and kind fathers to do this for them. All the boys, both great and small, could take part in digging the 
holes and planting the trees, and the girls could direct the trimming of them, and so all, even the smallest 
pupil, will have done something toward this beautiful work. When this shall have been done, the associa¬ 
tion might have a celebration, to which any person residing in the district shall be made welcome. 
Next it will be in order, if there be a church or public square in the district, whose grounds are barren of 
trees (assuch are apt to be) for the association to get up another “ bee” for their adornment. And when 
•the school-grounds and the church-yard have been thus beautified, and the boys and girls shall have had 
•the good time consequent thereto, then the association might send its committees canvassing from house to 
house through the district, until each land-owner shall have given a positive promise, that at the next tree- 
iiplanting season his farm fronts shall be supplied with the requisite shade-trees. 
THE BEST TREES AND VINES. 
I think the trees best adapted for successful culture in our region are the elm, maple, linden, ash, birch, 
.'beech, dogwood, pines, spruces, some of the willows, some of the poplars, a tulip tree, horse chestnut, ca- 
talpa, laburnum and oak. The shrubs which seem best adapted to our State, so far as I know, are the 
.deutzia, hydrangea, spiraea, wiegela, privet, arbor vitae, flowering cherry, flowering plum and hawthorn. 
Among our best and hardiest vines are the clematis, the bitter sweet, wistaria, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, 
morning glory, Virginia creeper and ampelopsis veitchii. The best plants for bedding purposes seem to be 
pansies, verbenas, geraniums, coleuses, centaurea and hybrid roses. Beautiful beds may be formed by 
planting seeds of the portulacca, pansies, verbenas, zinias, asters, dahlias, petunias, chrysanthemums, nas¬ 
turtiums, balsams, phlox, sweet William, and seeds of other well-known plants—Dr W. J. Milne, Gene- 
rseo Normal School. 
CAUTION. 
Trees should not be planted so near houses that the roots will interfere with the foundations or that their 
• shade will make the house damp. 
Trees should not be planted so closely along road-ways as to hinder the prompt drying of the road after 
Ornamental trees should not have the effect of a forest. 
ARBOR DAY POEMS. 
(Original.) 
ARBOR DAY TRIBUTE. 
With lavish hand our God hath spread 
Beauty and fragrance o’er the land; 
His smile revives the seeming dead; 
Nature awakes at His command. 
He breathes upon the leafless tree, 
He whispers to the tiny flower, 
His touch awakes the slumb’nng bee, 
And each obeys th’ Almighty Power. 
The perfumed breeze of smiling May, 
The dancing stream on mountain side, 
The wild bird’s trill of joyous lay, 
Proclaim Thy goodness far and wide. 
Attune our hearts to sing Thy praise, 
Expand our souls to comprehend 
Thy attributes and all Thy ways, 
And ever be our Guide and Friend. 
We plant to-day within the mould. 
The stock that needs thy tender care; 
Send deep its roots, its buds unfold. 
In answer to our faith and prayer. 
Jared Barhite, Irvington-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. 
