THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 115 



plant another kind. The result is a hodge-podge. However much more 

 desirable mjxed and natural planting may be on the private lawn, the street 

 planting should be formal and uniform. Every street that is noted -for the 

 beauty of its shade trees has only one species of tree planted on it. When 

 the planting and care of street trees is left to individuals, kinds are often 

 selected that do not thrive, or some trees may be neglected, leaving gaps 

 here and three, which spoil the avenue effect. 



There are several ways of overcoming this difficulty. Some cities and 

 towns prefer to let the individuals retain authority over the shade trees, 

 but seek to guide them in the selection of kinds and in their care. A few 

 cities furnish trees free, with advice about planting and caring for them. 

 There are a number of tree-planting associations, also, in large cities, which 

 provide trees, send out circulars, etc., without cost to the tree planters, and 

 do much good in this way. But in most cases it has seemed best for the cit\ 

 itself to assume the management of its street trees, in the interest of uni- 

 formity. 



The duty is sometimes delegated by the city to the park commission. 

 Such, for example, is the policy in the city of Lowell, Mass., by special act 

 of the Massachusetts legislature. The Lowell Park Board enforces rules 

 to the effect that no street tree shall be cut, broken, or otherwise disturbed, 

 nor shall any guy rope, cross bar, placard, or other contrivance be fastened 

 to it, nor shall a tree be used to fasten horses or other animals, without 

 permission of the board. Requests for the removal or trimming of trees are 

 made by the property owners to the board. The 80,000 trees of the city 

 of Washington are under the care of a special commission, which also main- 

 tain nurseries. In 1893 New Jersey provided for the appointment of com- 

 missions in each municipality to take charge of the planting and care of 

 shade trees. 



In the commission method of caring for street trees, the individual property 

 owners really have jurisdiction over the trees, but they are guided and advised 

 by the commission. It is but a step from this policy to the appointment 

 of a tree warden or tree forester, who shall have complete and sole charge 

 of all street trees. This is the prevailing policy in many of the eastern 

 states. The legislature of Massachusetts has provided for the appointment 

 of -tree wardens in every town, large or small, He has care of all trees in the 

 town, except those under the care of the park commission. He may pre- 

 scribe regulations for their care, enforced by suitable fines. Anyone who 

 desires to remove or prune a tree makes application to the tree warden, 

 who then announces a public hearing on the proposition. 



Thus it is seen that the trend is toward municipal ownership of street 

 trees. Most of the trees in a city are in a narrow strip of land between the 

 lots and the curb. There has been a dual sovereignty over this strip of land, 

 which has not been conducive to the best care of the trees upon it. The 

 idea that the street tree should be communal, not private property, is gaining 

 ground; inasmuch as the tree is a highly useful article of street ifurnishing, 

 like a piece of fine statuary. In any case, it is preposterous to leave the 

 matter entirely with the individual. No uniformity can result in that way. 

 There should at least be an ordinance providing that a hearing be given 

 before street trees are cut down. Ultimately, every city, town and village 

 will have its tree warden. Let us hope that politics will never enter the office 

 of the tree warden, as it sometimes has the office of park commissioner, to 

 the confusion of park development. 



