ARBOR DAY IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 264, 4 August 1936, Page 13

ARBOR DAY IN SCHOOLS

Arrangements For Observance DISTRIBUTION OF TREES With the object of ensuring a proper observance of Arbor Day in all the schools under its control, the Wellington Education Board has arranged for 3350 trees to be available for planting. Free supplies of trees to a total of 1400 are being made to schools which have applied for them. The distribution is under the control of Mr. H. W. Hesse, supervisor of agriculture and science instruction, and yesterday tire board’s offices resembled a nurseryman’s premises, as a large proportion of the 1400 free trees and plants were awaiting dispatch to the schools. Of this total, 900 were received from the Wellington City Council and 300 from the Lower Hutt Borough Council, the balance having been obtained from the board's own nursery supplies. The distribution is being made to schools in the Wellington city and suburban area and to 30 schools in the Horowhenua, Wairarapa and Marlborough areas. The board found itself unable in some cases to supply all the trees asked for, some schools having applied

for 200 trees and others for 70, 60, or 50. Twenty-five choice trees, however, are being sent to each school The board feels that 25 trees well planted and well cared for would be of more value than 200 forgotten after Abor Day and neglected for the remainder of the year. About half of these trees and shrubs are natives, including coprosmas, lacebarks, karos, senecios and veronicas. The remainder are exotic flowering and winter-berried shrubs, in which hakeas, viburnums, rosemary and tamarisks predominate. The board also has available 1300 trees grown by the Levin and Greytown District High Schools. These are various types of pines and cypresses which will stand windy conditions, and are for schools desiring shelter-belts. In addition, numbers of lace-barks, pohutukawas and kowbais have been grown. Committees intending to carry out planting at their own expense have been able to purchase trees and shrubs through the board at reduced rates. Taking advantage of this opportunity, 15 committees have purchased a total of 650 trees, mostly copper beeches, oaks, elms, sycamores and pohutukawas and other natives not available in the free distribution. A number of schools have explored local resources and obtained trees for planting, and to-morrow should see Arbor Day fittingly celebrated in every school throughout the district.