312 



Bulletin 256. 



the danger line, and their branches being small are removed without 

 hesitation, while large side branches on big trees are left according to 

 directions. The effect of such a pruning becomes apparent when one 

 realizes that it is not the size of the branch but the relation that it must 

 bear to the future development of the tree, that should govern its treat- 

 ment. Small branches that are leaders are often more important than 



large side branches. 



The effective method of 

 controlling this evil is to 

 demand that the com- 

 panies shall place their 

 wires underground. The 

 sight of poles along city 

 streets is not wholly bad, 

 if the street be properly 

 planted ; but the danger to 

 trees which seems to be 

 inseparable from the pres- 

 ence of poles will never be 

 overcome while the over- 

 head system is retained. 



A suggestion for con- 

 trolling the placing of 

 overhead wires and over- 

 coming their injuries is 

 that each city and town 

 should adopt one of the 

 following three methods 

 of procedure: 



(i.) The construction 

 by the municipality of a 

 conduit, the requirement 

 being made by the local government that the wires of the corporations 

 be placed therein. The initial expense of the construction of such a 

 conduit and of its subsequent maintenance, together with the interest 

 on the money invested, may be covered by requiring each of the 

 companies to pay an annual rental. 



(2.) The enactment of an ordinance requiring companies that use 

 any of the main avenues to put their wires underground at the rate of a 

 certain number of miles each year; and that no new lines be permitted 

 to be constructed above ground on the designated streets. 



Fig. 228. — The same row of poplars after having 

 been butchered by "professional pruners." 



