|
Free seedlings being given for Arbor Day |
|
April 18, 2017 |
Among the pioneers moving into the Nebraska
Territory in 1854 was J. Sterling Morton from
Detroit. He and his wife were lovers of nature,
and the home they established in barren Nebraska
was quickly planted with trees, shrubs and
flowers.
Morton was a journalist and he quickly spread
agricultural information and his enthusiasm for
trees to an excited audience through Nebraska’s
finest newspaper.
Trees were needed as windbreaks and to keep soil
in place. Also for fuel and building materials,
and for shade from the hot sun.
On January 4, 1872, Morton proposed a
tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day”
and a date was set by the State Board of
Agriculture for April 10, 1872. Prizes were
offered for planting the largest number of
trees. It was estimated that more than one
million trees were planted in Nebraska on that
first Arbor Day.
Other states then passed legislation to observe
Arbor Day and the tradition began. Today the
most common date for Arbor Day is the last
Friday in April, April 28 this year, but there's
no set rule.
The Boundary Soil Conservation District will be
giving away free Ponderosa Pine seedlings at
Super 1 Foods from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday,
April 28, unless the seedlings go faster than
expected.
And the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL)
is celebrating Arbor Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
in the IDL parking lot, 6327 Main Street,
Bonners Ferry.
hile supplies last, free seedlings will be given
to each person who stops by, and there will be
educational activities and prizes to win.
Foresters will also be available to answer
questions about Idaho state forests and private
lands, and firefighters will demonstrate fire
engines and their tools of the trade. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
