1906.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 73. 151 



CUTTING WORTHLESS TREES. 



Dr. Charles S. Sargent, the celebrated arboriculturist, says, 

 "There are too many trees in the metropolitan district," 

 meaning, of course, that there are many trees which have 

 never received the care and attention necessary to insure 

 their best growth and development. Aside from the un- 

 desirable species, such as the wild cherry and scrub apple 

 tree, there are not wanting trees on the majority of private 

 estates that never receive the slightest care or attention. 

 Never pruned, never fertilized, unprotected from damage by 

 horses and thoroughly infested by insect pests, such trees 

 either should be properly cared for or else removed. Since 

 the moth pests have now become thoroughly established in 

 eastern Massachusetts, it should be laid down as a rule that 

 no man should be allowed to maintain more trees than he 

 can properly care for. A thrifty, vigorous tree, protected 

 from insect injury, is a delight to the eye, and adds to the 

 value of the property on which it stands ; a neglected, in- 

 jured, diseased tree is an offensive object, reflects adversely 

 on those who allow such conditions to prevail, and in the 

 moth district actually depreciates the value of real estate. 

 Thus we are led to urge the general cutting of worthless, 

 diseased and uncared-for trees. 



We yield to no one in our admiration of the beautiful in 

 nature as exemplified in vigorous tree life ; but we cannot 

 see the wisdom of allowing worthless growths to remain by 

 roadsides or in back yards and lots, to breed the pests from 

 which we are striving to protect our streets and residential 

 districts. 



The co-operation of many citizens in the work against 

 the gypsy moth has been evidenced within a few months in 

 a striking way by the extensive cutting down of such old or 

 worthless trees throughout the infested district. Many old 

 apple orchards of dead or dying trees have disappeared from 

 the landscape while scattering trees too few to be dignified 

 with the name of orchard, which had outlived their useful- 

 ness, have similarly vanished. Every one will recall the 

 frequency of occurrence in the thickly populated section of 



