Excerpt from Arbor Day and Wisconsin Trees: A Circular
The men of Wisconsin hold elections every Spring and every second autumn. Why should not the boys and girls of the state hold an election occasionally? If the men may select a governor, why may not the children choose a state tree?
A proposition to hold such an election has met so much favor that ar rangements have been made to have one in the schools of Wisconsin on Arbor Day in 1893. Every child in the schools, regardless of age or sex, will be given an Opportunity to vote. As far as possible the forms of our excellent state election law should be followed, with election notices, in spectors and clerks of election, and booths where voters may mark their ballots without any Spying from their neighbors. All votes will be counted however, even if these forms are not followed, if the teacher will report them to the county superintendent. A blank for such a report will be sent with this circular.
As the men discuss the merits of the candidates for governor so may the children discuss the merits of the favorite trees. All the more common native trees should be carefully examined and their beauties of limb and leaf, flower and fruit pointed out. What are the Special excellencies of their woods? Are they good for fuel or fencing, for wagon bodies or wheels, for chairs or beds, for the floors or roofs or sides of houses, for the handles of axes or for oars, for matches or lead pencils, for pict frames or fine desks, for ties for railroad tracks, for telegraph poles, for the making of pulp for the paper mills, for croquet balls or mallets, or for any other of the countless uses to which wood is put?
How do they differ in grain, color and density of wood, in leaf and bark, in root and branch, in flower and fruitage?
There are numberless questions to be asked about trees, but the inform ation to be gained is secondary in value to the habit of going to the trees themselves to find the answer.
In the country districts all the young people of the neighborhood who have attended the school within the past two or three years, and are will ing to take part in the Arbor Day program, or to help plant the trees or beautify the grounds, may vote if the teacher and pupils wish.
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