Arbor Day Leaves | Page 9

observed from
Maine to Oregon and from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Not only
is this true, but this our tree-festival so commends itself to all that its
observance has spread more rapidly and more widely than any other
public observance in the world's history. It is already established in
portions of England, France, and Italy, in far-away South Africa and
Australia, and we shall probably hear before long of its adoption in
China and Japan.
And so, as we come together to have pleasant talks about the trees and
to march out with songs and banners to plant them in school grounds,
in parks, by the road-side or elsewhere, it will be pleasant to remember
that so many others are engaged in similar services. It should make the
day a happier one for us to think that so many will enjoy it as we do, as
it should always increase our happiness to know that others are sharing
with us anything that is good.
As it will, doubtless, be interesting to all engaging in the celebration of
the day, we give on the next page a list of the States in which Arbor
Day is observed.
STATES AND TERRITORIES OBSERVING ARBOR DAY.

YEAR OF FIRST STATES. OBSERVANCE TIME OF
OBSERVANCE.
Alabama 1887 22nd February. Arizona 1890-91 First Friday after first
of February. California 1886 Colorado 1885 Third Friday in April.
Connecticut 1887 In Spring, at appointment of Governor. Florida 1886
January 8. Georgia 1887 First Friday in December. Idaho 1887 Last
Monday in April. Illinois 1888 Date fixed by Governor and Supt. of
Public Instruction. Indiana 1884 " " Superintendent of Public
Instruction. Iowa 1887 " " " " Kansas 1875 Option of Governor, usually
in April. Kentucky 1886 " " Louisiana 1888-9 " Parish Boards. Maine
1887 " Governor. Maryland 1889 " " in April. Massachusetts 1886 Last
Saturday in April. Michigan 1885 Option of Governor. Minnesota 1876
" " Mississippi 1892 " Board of Education. Missouri 1886 First Friday
after first Tuesday of April. Montana 1887 Third Tuesday of April.
Nebraska 1872 22nd of April. Nevada 1887 Option of Governor. New
Hampshire 1886 " " New Jersey 1884 " " in April. New Mexico 1890
Second Friday in March. New York 1889 First Friday after May 1.
North Carolina 1893 North Dakota 1884 Sixth of May, by
proclamation of Governor. Ohio 1882 In April " " Oregon 1882 Second
Friday in April. Pennsylvania 1887 Option of Governor. Rhode Island
1887 " " South Carolina Uncertain Variable. South Dakota 1884 Option
of Governor. Tennessee 1875 November, at designation of County
Superintendents. Texas 1800 22nd of February. Vermont 1885 Option
of Governor. Virginia 1892 West Virginia 1883 Fall and Spring, at
designation of Supt. of Schools. Wisconsin 1889 Option of Governor.
Wyoming 1888 " " Washington 1892
Only the following five states or territories fail to observe Arbor
Day--Arkansas, Delaware, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, and Utah.
ENCOURAGING WORDS.
The Governors of our States and the Superintendents of our schools
have generally entered heartily into the observance of Arbor Day and
spoken earnest words of encouragement in its behalf. The following are
specimens of what they have said.

=New Hampshire.=--Governor Currier, in his Arbor Day Proclamation:
"I especially desire that our children may be taught to observe and
reverence the divine energies which are unfolding themselves in every
leaf and flower that sheds a perfume in spring or ripens into a robe of
beauty in autumn, so that the aspirations of childhood, led by beautiful
surroundings, may form higher and broader conceptions of life and
humanity; for the teachings of nature lead up from the material and
finite to the infinite and eternal."
=Illinois.=--Governor Fifer: "Let the children in our schools, the young
men and women in our colleges, seminaries, and universities, with their
instructors, co-operate in the proper observance of the day by planting
shrubs, vines, and trees that will beautify the home, adorn the public
grounds, add wealth to the State, and thereby increase the comfort and
happiness of our people."
=Missouri.=--From the Superintendent of Public Schools, in his annual
report: "Let this love for planting trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers be
encouraged and stimulated in the school-room and not only will the
school-yards profit thereby, but the now barren farm-yards and pastures
will remain the recipients of your instruction."
=California.=--From Superintendent of Public Instruction: "Our schools
cannot protect the forests, but they can raise up a generation which will
not leave their hillsides and mountains treeless; a generation which will
frown upon and rebuke the wanton destruction of our forest trees.
There is no spot on earth that may not be made more beautiful by the
help of trees and flowers."
=Nebraska.=--From the State Superintendent of Public Instruction: "On
this day, above all others, the pupils of our public