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Show fKTPr.vwr.CTrrrxmwttl1M huihHTrannrr :r-i ht hi .hH II A I The Standard's U. L C. Bureau J Articles of Interest to Farmers, Housekeepers and Others ! I Written for The Standard by Experts at Utah's Noted Agricultural College at Lgan j ARBOR DAY IN UTAH By DR. M. C. MERRILL. Horticulturist, Utah Experiment Station Arbor clay is a legal holiday In Utah. It occurs on April 15 of each year. By lav the governor is authorized to issue is-sue a proclamation commending the observance of this holiday by appropriate appro-priate planting of trees about the home or on public grounds. The originator of this idea may be considered to be B. G. Northrop, who, in 18G5, was secretary of tho Connecticut Connect-icut board of education. At that time he suggested the annual planting of trees under the direction of the state government. ' Unto J. Sterling Morton, president of the Nebraska state board of agriculture agri-culture in 1872, is probably due the credit of initiating the observance of Arbor day. He proposed setting apart a certain day each year for the purpose pur-pose or planting trees and shrubs throughout the stnte. At his suggestion sugges-tion this waa done and hence Nebraska Nebras-ka has the honor of being the pioneer in yils movment. i At the present time Arbor day Is observed in all the states of the union. The date set aside for this holiday varies from early in February in the . southern stataes to May in some of the northern stataes. But the significant signif-icant think is that the idea is widespread wide-spread over lie country and that tree-planting tree-planting has come to be a Avell-e3tab-l lished annual custom. Since the world war, numerous com- munitlcs throughout the United States have adopted the plan of establishing memorial parks in honor of their sons who went to war, and of planting a tree for each soldier who lost his life in the service. Several Utah towns have already fallen in line with this Idea and others are making plans to that end. Now Arbor day is not intended to be a day for loafing and inactivity and jof burning up gasoline for the mere, fun of it. If there Is any burning to be done, such stuff as rubbish, weeds and miscellaneous eye-sores about the home should be given first consideration. considera-tion. In very close conection and harmony with the idea of planting trees and shrubs on Arbor "clay is that of beautifying beau-tifying the home grounds and Surroundings Sur-roundings and of cleaning upr painting paint-ing up, and tidying up the place in goneral. Because nursery stock is scarce and high priced this year, is no reason or justification whatever for anyone taking the attitude that Arbor day must this year pass by unhonored as it were.. If there are no trees or shrubs to plant (and it may be that your place is full to overflowing with vegetation) then scout around among those you have and see if there isn't a lot of pruning that ought to be done. Suely If you have even half an inclination incli-nation you will find an abundance to do. Let mo suggest these points for you residents of Ogden and surrounding country to think about In connection with your Arbor Day work: 1. It may bo your present trees are standing too close together. It would be in accord with tho spirit of the day to remove some so the rest will have better opportunity to grow into beautiful., beau-tiful., shapely trees. 2. The function .of Arbor Day is not ended that. same day. If you later fail to caro for the plants set out on Arbor Day, the expense and ' effort have been largely in vain. 3. Trees and shrubs being scarse, do not waste them by planting on ground where their failure is foreseen from the start. 4. Exercise the greatest possible care to see that any planting you do is done righ'L This applies to the proper space between plants and to the method of pruning the top and loots and of setting the roots in the ground. If you don't know these things find out from one of your neighbors who does. |