Arbor Day.

Manawatu Herald, 16 June 1894, Page 3

Arbor Day.

SUGGESTIONS BY THE AOBICULCULTUItAL DEPARTMENT. If the proceedings take place within a city or borough, the programme for the day should be somewhat as follows : — The Council should have the conduct and direction of the general proceedings. A marshal should be appointed by the Council, and as many deputies as he may require. All functions and ceremonies should be made as impressive and imposing as possible. The sites for planting should be determined upon at the earliest possible moment, and arrangements made for having the holes properly dug for receiving the t>'ees. The attendance of as many professional gardners as possible should be obtained to assist and direct the planting, so that the trees may obiain a proper stavt. This ia nil-important.

Presents of suitable trees should be incited by advertisement beiorehand. A list of the varieties of trees planted, and also 1 the number of each variety, should be made, and a copy forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, in order that a comprehensive record may be kept of the annual progress of this important movement. An " Arbor Day Fund " should be established in each town or district. This might be raised and added to from time to time by means of concerts, socials, itc. ; also by direct contributions of those who sympathize with the movement. This fund would be available to provide trees and meet other incidental expenses. School Committees should be urged to use every means in their power to encourage the planting and beautifying of school- grounds. SUGGESTED PItOOBAMME. The children attending each State school should meet at the schoolhouse, or, if at too great a distance from the ground to be planted, then at convenient points on the road, whence they should march with banners and bands to the plantation, other schools on the line of march joining in. Where public reserves are to be planted, it is specially urged that each school be allotted a certain section of the ground, and, under suitable supervision, the entire care of planting and attending that section should be placed in the hands of the scholars. On the succeeding Arbor Day a certificate should be given to the school whose plantation had, during the year, received best attention and proved most successful. During planting operations the banner of each school should fly over the section allotted. At a stated time, after the arrival of the schools and other processions, a short and appropriate address or addresses should be given by the Mayor and other prominent colonists, pointing out the great advantages resulting from an intelligent planting of trees, i.e. : — Benefits which would accrue to soil and climate from a general system of tree-planting. Trees as shelter. Trees as a protection from encroachment of sand. Trees as ornaments. Wealth in trees. Timber. Secondary products, as tanningbarks, potash, charcoal, turpentine, pitch, gum, Burgundy pitch, resin, lamb-black, tar, creosote, &c. Compare present condition of countries that have despoiled their forests with their former prosperity — Palestine, Pursk, Colorado. The speeches to be followed by suitable music, such as the National and New Zealand Anthems, Arbor Day Cantata, itc. Then by the more serious work of tree-planting, in which it is hoped all colonists will take part.