By Bobbie Sweeney In the United States, we have a tradition which is still recognized but not as widely celebrated as it was in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Years ago, Arbor Day was given tremendous thought by schools and organizations in cities and towns across the country. It was celebrated in the spring of the year in northern states and in winter in areas further south.
Arbor Day was initiated by a man named Julius Sterling Morton in Nebraska in the year 1872. Morton was Secretary of Agriculture of the United States at the time. He realized that the planting of trees would enrich the soil and help keep the moisture in the soil. He was concerned about the lack of trees in Nebraska. Before he settled there, most of the trees had been cut down by earlier settlers who needed the wood to build their houses and furniture.
Morton urged the residents of Nebraska to follow his example by planting fruit trees and shade trees. The trees also served as windbreakers on the flat prairie countryside. At his suggestion, a special day was set aside, by the state legislature, to plant trees. It was called Arbor Day “Arbor” is the Latin word for trees.
When the first tree-planting day was held in 1872, there were more than a million trees planted. The day became an annual event and was celebrated across the nation. Arbor Day soon became a legal holiday on the 22nd day of April in honor of Morton’s birthday. Today April 22 is Earth Day and Arbor Day is celebrated two days later. This year Arbor Day is on April 24.
Arbor Day is not only celebrated throughout the United States but in Canada and other countries as well. Thanks to people with vision, like Julius Morton, our country has maintained one of our nation’s most valuable resources — our forests.
English Proverb
“He that plants trees loves others than himself.”
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