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Arbor Day April 10 In many countries it has long been the tradition to hold an annual tree or forest festival. The origin of such celebrations dates back to antiquity and is in the dawn of religious feeling and awe for what trees represented. However, Arbor Day, as it is commonly known today, is of American origin and evolved from conditions peculiar to the Great Plains. It was first observed in Nebraska in 1872. The idea, conceived by J.S. Morton, then a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, was one of forest conservation. It was a move to promote replanting, following deforestation, and to plant up treeless areas. The idea has spread widely to other lands where it is variously celebrated as the Festival of TreesGreening Week of Japan, The New Years Days of Trees in Israel, The Tree-loving Week of Korea, The Reforestation Week of Yugoslavia, The Students Afforestation Day of Iceland and The National Festival of Tree Planting in India. Arbor Day in its various forms is now recognised in more than fifty countries. THE IMPORTANCE OF ARBOR DAY On Arbor Day, particular attention is drawn to the part trees play in our lives. Its not just a day to plant trees and then forget the gesture for another twelve months. Planting a tree one day is no credit to us if, during the rest of the year, we neglect to care for it and those already growing. Our thought on Arbor Day should be an expression of enduring feeling, thought and action and not just one single, isolated flame of interest. | 
