CHAPTER XIII 



CITY FORESTBY AND SHADE TREES 



FROM earliest times the beauty of trees has been rec- 

 ognized and so great has been their charm that in 

 some countries they have been made objects of wor- 

 ship. In Grecian mythology the wood nymphs and 

 dryads played an important part while the oak worship 

 of the Britons under the leadership of the Druid priests 

 is an interesting fact concerning the religion of the 

 early inhabitants of the British Isles. In such great 

 esteem were these venerable oaks held that prisoners 

 were often sacrificed to them during the religious 

 ceremonies. 



The practical uses of trees, how they serve to shelter 

 man, provide him books and furniture; how they are 

 necessary to the huge transportation systems which 

 distribute the foodstuff of the world have already been 

 discussed. Trees serve still another purpose, since by 

 their beauty and shade they make the villages, towns and 

 cities of our country more attractive and livable for 

 it is hard to estimate how much trees add to the charm 

 and the permanent well being of the city dweller. As 

 a result of this need of trees in tEe larger towns and 

 cities there has arisen the profession of "city forester " 

 or arborist, a man who tends the trees grown for the 

 purpose of beautifying streets and parks, rather than 

 for timber purposes. 



During the time this country was being settled little 

 thought was given to comfort or beauty. In New Eng- 



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