ARBOR DAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1039, 22 June 1894, Page 3

ARBOR DAY.

The Department of Agriculture, in intimating that Arbour day this year will be held on August 1, instead of the 4th. as heretofore, requests us to bring under the notice ot the community the advisability of planting the public reserves and other available lands, both public and private, with trees suitable to the particular locality. With the object of assisting people to make a proper choice of trees, Professor K.\ck has catalogued the trees and shrubs that should be planted, for shelter or ornamentation, as the case may be, and the department makes these suggestions, which shouid be studied by municipal and local bodies that have the direction of the arrangements for the day : — ■

A marshal should V>e appoinrcd 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 on at the earliest possible moment, and arrangements made for having the holes properly dug for receiving the trees. The attendance of as many professional gardeners as possible should be obtained to assist arid direct the planting, so that the trees may obtain a proper start, This is allimportant, Presents of suitable trees

should be invited by advertisement beforehand. A list of the varieties of trees planted, and also the number of each variety, should be made, find a copy forwarded to the DeparS ntent of Agriculture, in order that a comprohensve record may be kept of the annual \y ogress of the important movement.

School committees should be 1 urged to use every means in their power to encourage the planting and beautifying of school grounds.

The programme which the department is anxious to see generally adopted includes the following directions : —

Where public, reserves are to he planted, it is specially urged rhafc each school he alloted a certain section of 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 ?, 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 alloted to it. At a stated time, after, the arrival of 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 tanning barks, potash, charcoal, turpentine, pitch, gum, Burgundy pitch, resin, lamp black, tar, creosote, etc. Compare present condition of countries that have despoiled their forests with their former prosperity — Palestine, Persia, Colorado, The speeches to be followed by suitable music, such as the National and New Zealand Anthems, Arbor Day cantatas, etc.