STATES AND TERRITORIES OBSERVING ARBOR DAY.
| STATES. | YEAR OF FIRST OBSERVANCE. | TIME OF OBSERVANCE. |
| Alabama | 1887 | 22nd February. |
| Arizona | 1890-91 | First Friday after first of February. |
| California | 1886 | |
| Colorado | 1885 | Third Friday in April. |
| Connecticut | 1887 | In Spring, at appointment of Governor. |
| Florida | 1886 | January 8. |
| Georgia | 1887 | First Friday in December. |
| Idaho | 1887 | Last Monday in April. |
| Illinois | 1888 | Date fixed by Governor and Supt. of Public Instruction. |
| Indiana | 1884 | " " Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
| Iowa | 1887 | " " " " " |
| Kansas | 1875 | Option of Governor, usually in April. |
| Kentucky | 1886 | " " |
| Louisiana | 1888-9 | " Parish Boards. |
| Maine | 1887 | " Governor. |
| Maryland | 1889 | " " in April. |
| Massachusetts | 1886 | Last Saturday in April. |
| Michigan | 1885 | Option of Governor. |
| Minnesota | 1876 | " " |
| Mississippi | 1892 | " Board of Education. |
| Missouri | 1886 | First Friday after first Tuesday of April. |
| Montana | 1887 | Third Tuesday of April. |
| Nebraska | 1872 | 22nd of April. |
| Nevada | 1887 | Option of Governor. |
| New Hampshire | 1886 | " " |
| New Jersey | 1884 | " " in April. |
| New Mexico | 1890 | Second Friday in March. |
| New York | 1889 | First Friday after May 1. |
| North Carolina | 1893 | |
| North Dakota | 1884 | Sixth of May, by proclamation of Governor. |
| Ohio | 1882 | In April " " " |
| Oregon | 1882 | Second Friday in April. |
| Pennsylvania | 1887 | Option of Governor. |
| Rhode Island | 1887 | " " |
| South Carolina | Uncertain | Variable. |
| South Dakota | 1884 | Option of Governor. |
| Tennessee | 1875 | November, at designation of County Superintendents. |
| Texas | 1800 | 22nd of February. |
| Vermont | 1885 | Option of Governor. |
| Virginia | 1892 | |
| West Virginia | 1883 | Fall and Spring, at designation of Supt. of Schools. |
| Wisconsin | 1889 | Option of Governor. |
| Wyoming | 1888 | " " |
| Washington | 1892 |
Only the following five states or territories fail to observe Arbor Day—Arkansas, Delaware, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, and Utah.
ENCOURAGING WORDS.
The Governors of our States and the Superintendents of our schools have generally entered heartily into the observance of Arbor Day and spoken earnest words of encouragement in its behalf. The following are specimens of what they have said.
New Hampshire.—Governor Currier, in his Arbor Day Proclamation: "I especially desire that our children may be taught to observe and reverence the divine energies which are unfolding themselves in every leaf and flower that sheds a perfume in spring or ripens into a robe of beauty in autumn, so that the aspirations of childhood, led by beautiful surroundings, may form higher and broader conceptions of life and humanity; for the teachings of nature lead up from the material and finite to the infinite and eternal."
Illinois.—Governor Fifer: "Let the children in our schools, the young men and women in our colleges, seminaries, and universities, with their instructors, co-operate in the proper observance of the day by planting shrubs, vines, and trees that will beautify the home, adorn the public grounds, add wealth to the State, and thereby increase the comfort and happiness of our people."
Missouri.—From the Superintendent of Public Schools, in his annual report: "Let this love for planting trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers be encouraged and stimulated in the school-room and not only will the school-yards profit thereby, but the now barren farm-yards and pastures will remain the recipients of your instruction."