TREE-PLANTING IN NEBRASKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1179, 4 July 1874, Page 22

TREE-PLANTING IN NEBRASKA.

Only on the banks of rivers and streams is there natural wood in Nebraska. But forest trees take kindly to the prairie soil, and are being planted by millions. The Hon. J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska City, who has been one of the foremost in the tree-planting movement, suggested the expediency of setting apart a day in the spring-time every year to the special work of tree-planting. The first "Ar-bour-day," as it is called, was 1 in 1871, and on that day two million trees wore planted. Next year, and the year after, Arbour-day was dropped ; but the month of April was recommended to all to choose a day for themselves. This year, however, the State Agricultural Board determined to go back upon the original idea, which is that, upon one special day in the year, each person owning land shall plant at least one tree. It was resolved that the time should be the second Wednesday in April, and that the State Legislature Bhould be asked to make the day a legal holiday. Nebraska will thus get a spring-tide holiday, the main recreation of which will bo 'ree-planting and attendant festivities. A premium will be awarded for the most trees planted on that day. It is now the custom of the State Board of Agriculture to present a premium for the largest number of trees planted any day in the month of April, and, at a meeting of the Board last January, the prize was awarded to a farmer, who planted 27,800 trees on April 28, 1873.— The Garden.