Ohio Arbor Day 1913: Arbor and Bird Day Manual | Page 9

whence came such trees Where not a bough once swayed in the breeze? The reply still comes as they travel on, "These trees were planted by Appleseed John."
(From "Appleseed John" by Maria Child.)
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Grandpa stopped, and from the grass at our feet, Picked up an apple, large, juicy, and sweet; Then took out his jack-knife, and, cutting a slice, Said, as we ate it, "Isn't it nice To have such apples to eat and enjoy? Well, there weren't very many when I was a boy, For the country was new--e'en food was scant; We had hardly enough to keep us from want, And this good man, as he rode around, Oft eating and sleeping upon the ground, Always carried and planted appleseeds-- Not for himself, but for others' needs. The appleseeds grew, and we, to-day, Eat of the fruit planted by the way. While Johnny--bless him--is under the sod-- His body is--ah! he is with God; For, child, though it seemed a trifling deed, For a man just to plant an appleseed, The apple-tree's shade, the flowers, the fruit, Have proved a blessing to man and to brute. Look at the orchards throughout the land, All of them planted by old Johnny's hand. He will forever remembered be; I would wish to have all so think of me."
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Bibliography of John Chapman.
Howe's History of Ohio, Vol. II, p. 484.
Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications, Vol. VI, p. 290. Vol. IX, p. 301.
"Philip Seymour" or "Pioneer Life in Richland County" by Rev. James F. McGraw.
"The Quest of John Chapman" by Newell Dwight Hillis.
[Illustration: JACKSON TOWNSHIP, PICKAWAY COUNTY, CENTRALIZED SCHOOL BUILDING.]

WHY STUDY BIRDS?
A Cincinnati teacher in one of the big intermediate schools recently discussed with her class the question of studying birds. She reminded them that they are city children living in a densely populated district, and that they could hardly expect to see the live birds unless they went into the country, but agreed to forming a bird-study class if the children could give good reasons for doing so.
One child called attention to the fact that they read and studied about many things all over the world that they never hoped to see, why not about birds also? One boy thought it just as necessary for city children to know what was to be seen in the country, as for country children to know what could be seen in the city. There were other reasons offered equally as good, but behind it all was a real live desire, a natural desire, that need give no reasons for its existence, to learn something about the wild birds. The teacher saw this, and being one who realizes that schools are maintained for the benefit of children rather than that children are born and reared to serve a school system, consented to the organization of a Junior Audubon Class.
Bird study in some measure should be given to every class in every school, city and country. Not just because it is new, not just because it is a branch of the now popular nature-study, not just because the children are eager for it, all of which are good reasons, but because of the great need of a national change of attitude toward the wild birds if we are to succeed in preserving this absolutely essential part of our natural resources.
--Eugene Swope.

TROOP OF WINTER BIRDS LED BY CAPTAIN NUT-HATCH.
H. W. WEISGERBER.
From Nature and Culture.
How many of the boys that roam the winter woods appreciate the services of the white-breasted nut-hatch? He is the captain of the small troop of winter resident birds, and where his "yank", "yank", is heard there are the other birds also. Sometimes he is far in advance of the troop, but the small company of followers press on and go where he leads.
In the winter birds are not as common as during the summer, and the bird student sometimes tramps a long ways before he sees one of any kind. Then, all of a sudden he hears the call-note of the nut-hatch, and if he is wise, he will follow it up until he comes upon the company, which will not be far away from where the nut-hatch is heard.
Sometimes only three species are found, but generally four different kinds of birds make up the small company that road the woods together. These four are the white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker, and the merry little chickadee. What a happy, contented quartet they are!
One cold and cloudy November morning I thought I had caught a pair of nuthatches that had betrayed their trust. I had followed an old rail fence that bordered a weedy cornfield next to an open woods, and the only birds seen were a few juncos and tree sparrows. After walking