ARBOR DAY PLANTING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 265, 5 August 1937, Page 8

ARBOR DAY PLANTING

Education Board Co-operating CEREMONY AT SCHOOLS Because of the national importance of tree-planting, local bodies throughout New Zealand have been requested to organise suitable celebrations on Arbor Day, Wednesday, August 11. As in previous years, the Wellington Education Board is co-operating in the celebrations, and has requested a proper observance in all the schools under its control. If, because of bad weather in any district, August 11 be unsuitable for tree-planting, the schools affected are to observe some other suitable day, preferably the Thursday or Friday of that week. Grants of free trees are to be made to those schools which have applied for them, and purchases of trees have also been made by the board on behalf of school committees. The better financial position of committees. in consequence of ■ increased capitation is reflected in the fact that, for the first time, the purchasers of trees on behalf of the committees exceed the total of free trees. The board has bought some 1700 trees and 1474 free trees are to be distributed throughout the Wairarapa, Horowhenua, Marlborough, Wellington city and suburban areas. Gifts of Trees. Gifts of trees are being received in bulk at the board’s office to-morrow. The Wellington City Council and the Wellington Beautifying Society have each given 500 trees and the Lower Hutt Borough Council 300. These stocks are to be augmented by between 400 and 500 trees grown at the Levin and Greytown District High Schools and 100 trees from the Northland School. Those schools which are already fully planted are to have an Arbor Day ceremony, and the pupils are to assist the Wellington Beautifying Society in its planting operations. The trees to be planted this year are stated to be of a better type, and the ‘■pine-complex’’ has been overcome. Instead, there are to be more ornamental trees, mainly New Zealand natives such as the yellow kowhai, pohutukawa, red kaka beak (Clianthus), puriri, . lacebark, and such shrubs as veronicas and celmesias. At least three-quarters of the free supply are native trees and shrubs, the balance being made up with exotic ornamental shrubs. Among the purchased trees, copper beech, silver birch, maple, and flowering cherry predominate.