CITY FORESTRY AND SHADE TREES 165 



a knowledge of how each, kind of tree grows naturally 

 and an attempt to force a tree to assume an unnatural 

 shape is a waste of effort. 



Tree surgery is perhaps the part of esthetic forestry 

 with which the public is most familiar on account of 

 the immense amount of advertising that has been done. 

 To do good work, a knowledge of plant physiology, 

 how the tree grows, what causes decay, etc., are neces- 

 sary. Yet there are numerous firms doing work of this 

 kind employing men none of whom, from the proprietor 

 of the business down, knows anything at all about 

 the fundamental principles of tree growth. In addition 

 to carelessness a large amount of dishonest work has 

 been done such as throwing in brick and loose stone 

 into a large tree cavity, and coating the face with 

 cement, making it appear like a solid mass of concrete. 

 So many people have been deceived by the claims of 

 such firms that in some of the States the college of 

 forestry or State forester has sent out warnings against 

 them. They not only collect large sums for work poorly 

 done but the trees are left in worse shape than before. 



When it is realized that a city forester on assum- 

 ing office may take charge of twenty-five to thirty 

 thousand trees of all kinds and conditions, the amount 

 of this kind of work that is thrust upon him is 

 enormous. The cultivating and watering of the city 

 trees during periods of drought must also receive his 

 attention, for many progressive cities are watering their 

 trees every week or ten days. In addition to the above 

 the planting of shrubs in parks, the development of 

 new playgrounds, may be added to his work so that 

 his position is one of great activity and responsibility. 

 In all his undertakings his success will depend on 

 personality and enthusiasm as much! as on technical 



