ARBOR DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 6

ARBOR DAY.

[by I m'callum.] / Why should tijew Zealand have an Arbor Day ? lis the time of the year for planting trelnd at this season also we are making lay in commemoration of our Gracious La's birthday, in common with the pp of many lands over which the peaceknd beneficent rule of Victoria extends.? the course of nature, these celebration*! not be always ; and this being so, iblne a fit and pleasant way of celebrating anniversary of our Sovereign's ' birth that this should henceforward be peat national day for tree-planting, wtevery child in every public school cat®, of doing so, and wherever this m! 'with advantage be done, should la carefully to plant a tree. The sijk is said never sets on this vast eik, but it is not in many of the Que* dominions that Sol is approaching hiinter solstice in the month of May. dj rightly set out in this month, in our gaclime, perhaps, also in honour of a fatijjr mother, will likely outlive the happivnter, even if he or she should live, as tl£h commandment of the decalogue prod» to a ripe old age. Thoae are ton gun trees, so our greatest poet has said ; 1 who knows with what melody those mns of trees, planted on every succeeditArbor Day, might be vocal to " thaborn millions" of our young nation's ldren, of whom, to be sure, we liaveird more than wo have seen. Well, ps>s this is looking too far ahead. But th can be no doubt of the immediate bento the rising generation which will resifrom developing a taste for the ntudy qculture of trees. A love of trees, and activated taste for the works of the Crtr in nature, we must, if we know anythi*f the matter, associate with culture of i moral as well as the intellectual facife. In young communities like oui'n, whatever tends to soften the ruder disitions of youth, or to lessen the hard miialism of maturer life, ought to be gladt'elcomed by us. The material aspect of Arbor Day is of groat value, having immj economic importance to this country, aatas proved to have in other lands. The modern prate of devoting a special day of the year to I planting of trees has been adopted in jarge number of the States of the Aucan Union to their grsat advantage, sell as by one or two of the Auatraliaiolonies. There the Governor sets the triple. Might wo not request His Excelljy our new Governor, who will soon step our shores, to inaugurate his vice-royalty giving the children attending all our die schools the opportunity of plantinjiemorial trees ! This fair land, still so 11 in forest wealth and loveliness, is threded at no very distant day with forest [nudation. Our fine forests and nativpush are fast falling before the axe a) the fire; while Hie general and systeriic plantation of waste lands is greatly fleeted, both by the Government and F those having private interests. The cliitic effects which will bo sure to they have followed reckless deforestati in many other countries, will be depld when they will be beyond remedy. ] The remedy is, tji largo extent, in our own hands. It ad much to the interest of this simple metß of rehabilitating our beautiful land wijnew arboreal charms and riches that it ay be accomplished by the hands of thehildren attending our national schools. J would respectfully suggest that the Ceminent should supply the trees, free, fri their forest-tree nurseries. Friends njit also give them to schools as a donbn, proper kinds, of course, being select! There is a splendid variety to choose tn, including some of our native timber tes. With this excep tion deciduous treaare, as a rule, to be preferred. The cooon pine (P. insignia) and cypress (C. maocarpa) are unsuitable for any situation rich juvenile planters could choose. Siugloomy and cumbrous denizensof the foreffangesof the great west ought to be relegad entirely to Government plantations arboundaryshelters. For our Northern Islaij and moist situations we have the Oriefcl plane, so much admired by the Greelaind Romans, and the alder (Alnus glubbsa), familiar in our British vales and pns as a humble tree of indigenous gro\W ; here it becomes one of the handsomest trees. For dry situations there are tl oaks, the walnuts— English, and Amejan black walnut, —and the Spanish chenut, giving not only ornament and shetr but also a rich return in timber or fruit. 1 To these the names of many sorts of frail trees can be added. Where country an&uburban highways are planted with shaderees, these ought to be in all cases protect! by the local authorities. How much hisi would add to the amenities of many i, shaaeless neighbourhood ! Many a barschool enclosure would assume a now aspec in the associations of the young as well ain the landscape ; and many a bleak wasti and rural homestead would smile againln sylvan beauty. At the same time, th institution of Arbor Day would year b year add millions to the nation's wealth,at little or 110 cost to the country.