ARBOR DAY ANNUAL.

The celebration of arbor day in Iowa schools, first established in 1887, by Hon. J. W. Akers, superintendent of public instruction, has met with a generous response from patrons and pupils.

The memory of Horace Mann was wrought into the program of 1887. Thus the worthy life and useful deeds of a good man were brought into association with the tender and beautiful in nature, where trees served both as symbols, and as reminders of one who had passed away.

The anniversary of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant was chosen as the date for character study in connection with tree planting exercises in 1888. The Grant Tree, planted that day on many school grounds, stands as a living lesson, and brings the school children into a closer knowledge of the period which drew so largely upon the elements of bravery and self-denial, among the people of our land. Tributes of Louisa M. Alcott were also woven into the exer

cises in 1888.

The third circular issued from the department of public instruction, as a stimulus to the observance of arbor day, April, 1889, was framed in accordance with the national commemoration of the centennial of the United States under a constitution. A vignette portrait of George Washington embellished the first page of the pamphlet, which bore the inscription, The Loyal Leaflet. It contained suitable selections, and choice songs set to music.

In 1890, the patriotic sentiment was continued, the title page of the department circular bearing a flag in colors. The blending of the red, white and blue in nature, was appropriately shown by articles on the sky, sunrise, sunset, and in poems about favorite flowers of these emblematic hues. Fully seventeen thousand copies of these arbor day annuals were distributed to secretaries of school boards.

So far the exercises had been of a general order, seeking mainly to awaken in the minds of school children a love for trees and flowers, and an appreciation of the kindred ministry of woodland influences, sunshine and song of birds. In 1891 an effort was made to reach more directly those springs of character which tend to the formation of good citizens. It was thought best to encourage state pride, and foster the feeling of ownership that would arise through a careful study of the resources of Iowa, so richly diversified in soil and surface. Invitations were extended to such persons as were known to be in ready sympathy with nature's moods, and to cherish likewise a fond companionship for all of Iowa's generous products, to contribute some lines of song, or a short sentiment, to be used by the school children of Iowa in celebration of arbor day, April 24, 1891.

This resulted in the compilation of a sixteen page circular entitled A Forest Festival, with illustrations in harmony with the subjects treated. Twenty thousand copies were printed.

The introduction was the annual greeting of the state superintendent to the school children of Iowa, in letter form:

My dear young friends:-You may be tired of school and books. It is not very strange if you are. Grown people sometimes are tired of their work and would like to play, as well as you. You are only little "grown up people," and so get weary of that which is real work to you. To-day let us drop school and lessons, and spend the day in the open air, with trees, and fruit, and flowers, and birds.

Bring your teachers with you, it will do them good. Put your books in the desk, you will have no need of them. Here is a book as old as the world and so simple that a little child can learn its lessons. It is so full of truth and knowledge that wise men have spent days and nights, all their long lives, in the study of it.

You have learned much about Iowa. You can draw a good map of the state, and trace its rivers, and locate its large cities and towns. You know what crops grow in the fields, and what can be dug from its mines.

You ought to be proud of Iowa! It is a great state, it is a grand state! There is no state in the union in which the people are happier or more prosperous.

Iowa has a noble history which you ought to know. Years before you were born, when there was a dreadful war in the land, the men of Iowa proved themselves the bravest of the brave. Many of them gave their lives in order that you might have happy homes in a free country.

But this is not all you should know of Iowa. You should learn what trees grow best in Iowa soil, and are of the greatest use to us. When white men first came to live on these wide prairies, there were but few trees. In some parts of the state there were not any. So they went to work at once to plant trees about their homes, and in the yards, and along the sides of their farms.

Men do not like to live where there are no trees to break the force of the winds, to furnish fuel for the fires, and shade and shelter for the cattle in the fields.

Then we have many very beautiful birds that build their nests in the trees and sing their songs to us.

The wild flowers on the prairies and in the groves can teach you lessons, and the birds sing to you, while you gather at noon in the shade of the trees to rest from your work or your play.

You should also learn what fruit grows best in your part of the state. The apple, the pear, the cherry, all the small fruits like the strawberry or blackberry, these will soon be among the products which pay the farmer best to raise on his land. You onght to learn all you can about them; how to plant them and care for them would be a good subject to talk about in school.

This arbor day annual has been made by Iowa men and women, and tells you of Iowa trees and fruits, and flowers and birds.

We hope you will enjoy it, and that you will learn from its use how good it is to live out of doors and open our hearts to learn the lessons of love and trust and beauty, which nature is so ready to teach us. April 24, 1891.

Yours respectfully,

HENRY SABIN.

This was followed by an outline of work, styled hints and helps. We designate for especial study this year the trees of Iowa, kinds and habits; also flowers of Iowa, with close observation, to be continued as the season advances; and the birds of Iowa, between the children and whom a loving acquaintance should be established. These subjects are suitable for every day talks, and the work begun on arbor day may properly run through the year. They are available for town and country alike, the thoughts they give rise to will foster love of home and state, and stimulate patriotic sentiment, while they inculcate a protecting care for the tender and weak, and develop a love for the beautiful.

Where trees are abundant and planting is not desirable, the opportunity for impressive lessons remains. Preparation may be made in advance by assigning lists of words for the writing and spelling exercises, as names, varieties, and uses of trees and woods; nut and fruit bearing trees, etc. Names of birds and flowers may also be brought to notice beforehand, and drawings upon the blackboard will be found ready aids to object lessons. Taking a vote on a favorite tree, calling upon children to choose a national flower, giving the children the names of trees, flowers or birds that each one may represent, will create a strong personal regard for arbor day.

In cases where the provisions of chapter 23, laws of 1882, have been so fully complied with that the planting of large trees, singly