ARBOR DAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 96, 26 August 1942, Page 2

ARBOR DAY

VALUE OF TREE PLANTING

FIRST STARTED IN 1.K72 Seventy years ago- a fa - -s'ghletl man thought of the idea of having a special clay set aside to encourage the planting of trees to conserve moisture, to maintain an'; I to beautify cit'ex and coin try. That was in 1872. when J. Sterling" Morton, of Nebraska City in the United States, was president of the .State. Board of Agriculture. ll.' introduced a resolution to set apart April 10 that year as a day of tree planting in Nebraska. Prizes wareawarded agricultural societies an 1 individuals for planting the most trees. The holiday was established and more than a million trees were planted that first Arbor Day.

Later, in 1885, the Legislature made Arbor Day a legal holiday and April 22 was decided on as the annual elate. Since that time the ••ustom has spread to nearly every State in the union and to several other countries, including Canada, England, the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, France, Norway and China. The tlay celebrated depends on the climate; in New Zealand it is held on August o.

In England a great tree-lover. Mr Richard St. Barbe Baker, some years ago founded an oragnisation called "The Men of the Trees" whose aims are not only for Umber and the protection of land from erosion but lo stress the spiritual message that trees have for the men who love and understand them.

Trees for Honey-birds Tn any programme of troe-p'ant-ing the trees that provide I'ocd for New Zealand's beautiful birds which are honey-eaters, should not be omitted. There arc not many of these trees but they are worth planting not only for their beauty and valuable timber, but for the preservation of cur interesting and unique bird life. A popular introduced- shrub, the single flowered camellia, provides a great store for honey-eating birds during the winter, and the strawberry tree (Benthamia) gives food for birds who feast on its scarlet berries. The common whi;e lucerne tree is also very popular Avith tuis, inducing them to come quite close to many town houses.