DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
STATE OF OHIO

In Accordance with Section 358 of the
General Code of Ohio this

Arbor and Bird Day Manual

is Issued for the Benefit of the

SCHOOLS OF OUR STATE

Compiled by

MRS. GRACE R. CLIFTON

Issued by the
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS

APRIL 1913

Columbus, Ohio:
The F. J. Heer Printing Co.
1913

Transcriber's Note.

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Dialect spellings, contractions and discrepancies have been retained.

STATE OF OHIO

Executive Department

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

PROCLAMATION.

By authority of the law of the State of Ohio, Friday, April 4th, 1913, is hereby named and set apart as

ARBOR DAY.

The statutes provide that those in charge of public schools and institutions of learning are required to devote at least two hours to giving information to the pupils and students concerning the value and interest of forestry and the duty of the public to protect the birds thereof and also for planting forest trees.

It is well that our people have come to a full appreciation of the commercial, as well as the sentimental value of these things. This appreciation was arrived at through the proper inculcation into the minds of the young of the importance of observing the matters of nature upon which we are all so dependent.

But let us not confine our observance of Arbor Day alone to the schools and institutions of learning. Let us at least carry the spirit of the day also into our homes as well. And above all, let us be mindful at this time of the great scheme of nature wherein the humblest plant and flower, as well as the lordliest of the animal creation, has its proper place.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed at Columbus, this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirteen.

By the Governor:

James M. Cox.

• Chas. H. Graves
  • Secretary of State.

James M. Cox

Section 358. The state commissioner of common schools shall issue each year a manual for arbor day exercises. The manual shall contain matters relating to forestry and birds, including a copy of such laws relating to the protection of song and insectivorous birds as he deems proper. He shall transmit copies of the manual to the superintendents of city, village, special and township schools and to the clerks of boards of education, who shall cause them to be distributed among the teachers of the schools under their charge. On arbor day, and other days when convenient, the teachers shall cause such laws to be read to the scholars of their respective schools and shall encourage them to aid in the protection of such birds.

Section 7688. Not later than April the governor of the state shall appoint and set apart one day in the spring season of each year, as a day on which those in charge of the public schools and institutions of learning under state control, or state patronage, for at least two hours must give information to the pupils and students concerning the value and interest of forests, the duty of the public to protect the birds thereof, and also for planting forest trees. Such a day shall be known as Arbor Day.

Section 1409. No persons shall catch, kill, injure, pursue or have in his possession either dead or alive, or purchase, expose for sale, transport or ship to a port within or without the state a turtle or mourning dove, sparrow, nuthatch, warbler, flicker, vireo, wren, American robin, catbird, tanager, bobolink, blue jay, oriole, grosbeck or redbird, creeper, redstart, waxwing, woodpecker, humming bird, killdeer, swallow, blue bird, blackbird, meadow lark, bunting, starling, redwing, purple martin, brown thresher, American goldfinch, chewink or ground robin, pewee or phoebe bird, chickadee, fly catcher, knat catcher, mouse hawk, whippoorwill, snow bird, titmouse, gull, eagle, buzzard, or any wild bird other than a game bird. No part of the plumage, skin or body of such bird shall be sold or had in possession for sale.

Section 1410. No person shall disturb or destroy the eggs, nests or young of a bird named in the preceding section; but nothing of the preceding section shall prohibit the killing of a chicken hawk, blue hawk, cooper hawk, sharp skinned hawk, crow, great horned owl, or English sparrow, or the destroying of their nests, or prohibit the owner or duly authorized agent of the premises from killing blackbirds at any time, except on Sunday, when they are found to be a nuisance or are injuring grain or other property.

INTRODUCTION.

This Arbor and Bird Day Annual has been compiled and published for the benefit of the teachers of Ohio. It is our purpose to have this book used from the time it is received until the close of the school term. We find that but few books written about birds and their habits come into the hands of the boys and girls; therefore, we have attempted to include as much additional information as possible concerning the most common birds of Ohio. You will find that the articles about birds are but a continuation of bird study found in the 1912 Arbor and Bird Day Annual. We are under obligations to "Nature and Life", a publication of the Audubon Society, for their articles, for which credit is given after each selection. Johnny Appleseed is a character with whom all the boys and girls should become acquainted. C. L. Martzolf's article about this peculiar man should be read carefully. F. B. Pearson contributed a fine description and history of the "Logan Elm". Charles DeGarmo of Cornell University generously contributed two poems that have not appeared in print before this publication.

G. R. C.

"The Old Beech Tree," Ohio University Campus, Athens, Ohio.

THE CLASS TREE.

(Tune: America.)

Grow thou and flourish well

Ever the story tell,

Of this glad day;

Long may thy branches raise

To heaven our grateful praise

Waft them on sunlight rays

To God away.

Deep in the earth to-day,

Safely thy roots we lay,

Tree of our love;

Grow thou and flourish long;

Ever our grateful song

Shall its glad notes prolong

To God above.

"Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees,"

On this glad day:

Bless Thou each student band

O'er all our happy land;

Teach them Thy love's command.

Great God, we pray.

—Emma S. Thomas, Schoharie, N.Y., in Teacher's Magazine.

THIS IS ARBOR DAY.

(Tune: Lightly Row.)

Arbor Day, Arbor Day,

See, the fields are fresh and green,

All is bright, cheerful sight,

After winter's night.

Birds are flying in the air,

All we see is fresh and fair;

Bowers green now are seen,

Flowers peep between.

Swaying trees, swaying trees,

Rocking gently in the breeze,

Dressed so gay, fine array,

For this is Arbor Day.

While we plant our trees so dear,

All the others list to hear

How we sing, in the spring,

And our voices ring.

Here we stand, here we stand,

Round the tree, a royal band;

Music floats, cheering notes,

Sweetly, gaily floats.

March along with heads so high

While our tree is standing nigh;

Step away, light and gay,

On this Arbor Day.

—Selected.

This school building is located at Pickerington, Fairfield County. Violet township helped to build this building, and the town and township have among the best of the centralized schools of the state.

WHY WE PLANT THE TREE.

First Pupil.

We plant the tree for the shade it gives;

For the shade of a leafy tree

On a hot summer's day when the hot sun shines,

Is pleasant for all to see.

Second Pupil.

We plant the tree for the dear birds' sakes,

For they can take their rest,

While the mate sings of love and cheer

To the mother on her nest.

Third Pupil.

We plant the tree to please the eye,

For who does not like to see,

Whether on hill or plain or dale,

The beauty of a tree?

Fourth Pupil.

We plant the tree for the wood to use

In winter to keep us warm,

And for hall and church and store and house,

To have shelter from the storm.

—Primary Education.

WHAT THE TREE TEACHES US.

First Pupil.

I am taught by the oak

To be rugged and strong

In defence of the right;

In defiance of wrong.

Second Pupil.

I have learned from the maple,

That beauty, to win

The love all hearts,

Must have sweetness within.

Third Pupil.

The beech with its branches

Widespreading and low,

Awakes in my heart

Hospitality's glow.

Fourth Pupil.

The pine tells of constancy,

In its sweet voice;

It whispers of hope,

Till sad mortals rejoice.

—Selected.

ARBOR DAY FETE.

By Grace A. Lusk, Milwaukee.

(Stage, if possible, represents scene out-of-doors; raised throne to right.)

Enter Chorus.

Every season hath its pleasures,

Which we sing in joyous measures;

In Summer's sunshine, rich and sweet,

Blossom flowers, ripens wheat;

Autumn puts the wood aflame,

Poets give her beauties fame;

Winter comes—a world of snow

And crisp, clear air make faces glow;

Spring awakens Nature dear,

Song birds chant 'neath skies so clear,

Every season hath its pleasures,

Which we sing with joyous measures.

Enter boy and girl (with flag and drum).

Boy:

In Summer comes the joyous Fourth,

I beat my drum for all I'm worth;

Girl:

Our crackers make a joyous noise,

For girls like fun as well as boys.

(The holidays, after speaking, step to left and right of throne.)

Enter girl (in Puritan dress).

After reaping harvest's gold

Thanks we render, for manifold

The blessings are each passing year,

Thanksgiving is a day of cheer.

Enter girl (in coat and furs, arms full of packages and holly).

On the night before Christmas

There came to our house,

A right jolly old elf, as still as a mouse;

He filled all the stockings,

Trimmed each Christmas tree,

Made our Christmas merry—a good saint is he!

Enter very small boy (carrying a big book under his arm with 1913 printed on it).

The wild bells rang across the snow,

The old year went—though loath to go;

The New Year came, while bells were ringing;

His days of joy and sorrow bringing.

Enter girl (in white trimmed with red hearts).

Mine is a day of piercing darts,

Flowers sweet, and big red hearts,

Cupids tender, verses fine,

I'm the happy valentine.

Enter two boys (carrying flags).

Together:

Birthdays of patriots, brave and true,

In February drear, make cheer for you.

First boy:

Lincoln so kind, was everyone's friend;

Second boy:

Washington did a young nation defend.

Chorus (to Holidays).

Once, each year, supreme you reign,

O'er the lads and lassies in your train,

Now comes our gentle springtime fay,

The gladsome, happy Arbor Day.

Enter Arbor Day (in white, crown of flowers, accompanied by two small maids with flowers, accompanist softly plays Mendelssohn's Spring Song).

Chorus continues.

Each holiday brings joy and gladness—

Makes us banish thoughts of sadness,

Arbor Day, your reign is brief,—

But every blossom, every leaf,

Every bird of wood or field

Its fullest homage now doth yield.

May you be a happy queen,

We, happy subjects are, I ween.

Arbor Day (while Chorus leads her to throne).

Thank you for your greeting hearty,

This will be a merry party.

Chorus.

Our friends, the children, in meadows at play,

Are coming to join our glad holiday.

School children (with baskets and bouquets of flowers pass to right of stage, salute in military fashion, saying):

Dear Arbor Day, your subjects loyal,

Give you greetings, hearty, royal.

Queen.

Thank you, friends, greeting sweeter,

Never yet a queen had greet her.

Enter ten girls (in white with flowers in hands and in their hair; they quickly and lightly run across stage and form in line; each courtesies as she says her lines).

First girl:

I'm the queen, for I'm the Rose,

The proudest, sweetest flower that blows.

Second girl:

I'm shy Violet, from the wood,

You know me by my purple hood.

Third girl:

I'm the Dandelion yellow,

Some call me a saucy fellow.

Fourth girl:

I'm Anemone, shy and tender,

On my stalk so tall and slender.

Fifth girl:

I'm Morning Glory that climbs the wall,

My trumpet flowers softly call.

Sixth girl:

I'm Buttercup with a chalice to hold

The rich warm sunshine's yellow gold.

Seventh girl:

I'm Apple-blossom, my pink dresses

The bee admires, so he confesses.

Eighth girl:

I'm Waterlily, my golden heart

Keeps the sunbeam's glancing dart.

Ninth girl:

I'm shy Crocus, the first to show

My pretty head from beneath the snow.

Tenth girl:

I'm sleepy Poppy, from my home in the wheat,

I've come with the others our new queen to greet.

All in unison:

Dear Arbor Day, your subjects loyal,

Give you greeting, hearty royal.

Arbor Day.

Thank you, blossoms, sweet and tender,

I your kindness shall remember.

Rose (turning to flowers and holidays).

Nature laughs in gleeful joy,

In songbirds trill, in flowerlets coy,

Shall we, also, voices raise,

Sing our gentle spring queen's praise?

(School children, Holidays and Flowers sing while Flowers join hands and dance about in circle.)

(Tune: Campbells are coming.)

Springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la,

Brooklets run clear, tra-la, tra-la,

Birds are winging, flowers springing,

For springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la.

(Alternate girls step inside circle, face outward, other circle about.)

The gentle May breeze, tra-la, tra-la,

Plays o'er the green leas, tra-la, tra-la,

Dandelions twinkle, violets sprinkle,

The sward 'neath the trees, tra-la, tra-la.

(Each girl in inner circle gives her right hand to left hand of girl in outer circle, thus in "wheel form" they circle singing.)

The garden flowers gay, tra-la, tra-la,

Are here to stay, tra-la, tra-la,

The rich red roses, and all pretty posies,

Say springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la.

(Dropping hands in single file they pass to back of stage singing.)

Springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la,

Brooklets run clear, tra-la, tra-la,

Birds are winging, flowers springing,

For springtime is here, tra-la, tra-la.

Arbor Day.

Thank you, friends, greeting sweeter,

Never yet a queen had greet her.

But who comes now in trim array

So straight and proud,—tell me, pray?

Trees enter (carrying budded boughs of trees; they march and countermarch in simple march figures, while piano plays "Campbells are coming," or "Narcissus." They form in line, each saluting queen as he speaks his line.)

First boy:

The Maple gives us grateful shade;

Second boy:

The Laurel's honors never fade;

Third boy:

The Chestnut's flowers are fine to see;

Fourth boy:

But the Apple's are better, thinks the bee;

Fifth boy: