Street Trees. 



311 



In this day of large expenditures for the betterment of rural con- 

 ditions, it is time that these devastations of our street trees were con- 

 sidered seriously by the public, and restraining action taken. (See 

 Municipal Control of Street Trees, p. 483). The adoption of special city 

 and town ordinances can be made to control this matter completely. Such 

 ordinances may provide that if overhead wires must traverse the streets, 

 then some responsible 

 and duly qualified per- 

 son shall supervise the 

 pruning of the trees, 

 when it is necessary in 

 order to make a pas- 

 sage for wires. 



The butchery that is 

 practiced when wires 

 are first strung, and 

 later at intervals to 

 prevent the subsequent 

 growths from coming 

 in contact with the 

 wires, is not the only 

 evil against which the 

 public must protect it- 

 self. The removal of 

 broken branches, and 

 of those injvired and 

 killed through contact 

 with electric wires, 

 should be supervised, to 

 insure the best develop- 

 ment of the tree; and 

 this, also, should require 

 the services of one who 



thoroughly understands the nature of the work, in order that cuts 

 shall be properly made, wounds properly dressed and protected, and 

 no unnecessary harm done to the tree. Sometimes the linemen who 

 go over the streets to inspect the condition of the trees and wires 

 carry with them instructions to remove all small branches which are 

 interfering with the path of the wires, and to remove no large branches 

 without consulting their employer. Such instructions seem to be verv' 

 adequate; but there are many young trees whose tops are just coming to 



Fig. 



227. 



-A roadside row of poplars before being 

 trimmed. 



