indefinitely by this means and he should never be required to enforce his 

 rights by sheer physical force, especially when a thing so valuable to the 

 public at large as a fine shade tree that may be a cherished land mark is 

 concerned, and the only reason for its removal or mutilation may be the 

 desire of some telephone or electric light company to save a little expense 

 in erecting or maintaining their lines. The same may be said of unauthor- 

 ized bill boards and posters that mar the beauty of nearly all of our roadsides. 

 They have no right in public roads and ninety-nine people out of every 

 hundred would be glad to see them torn down, but unless they are pro- 

 hibited bv law this is not likely to be accomplished. 



The time has now come when all those in favor of the planting and 

 protecting of trees along the roadsides and along the streets of cities and 

 towns in Maryland can do effective work, provided they act at once. 



What is known as The Roadside Tree Bill has been introduced in the 

 State Senate by Senator Benson of Baltimore Count}-. This bill provides : 



1. That the powers of the State Board of Forestry shall be so enlarged 

 as to include the planting and care of roadside trees and the State Forester 

 is directed to supervise the work. 



2. That the County Commissioners, the Road Supervisors, the State 

 Roads Commission, the Town Council of cities or towns, or any organiza- 

 tion or person may apply to the State Forester for a plan of planting trees 

 or for caring for existing trees. An examination of the proposed location 

 is then made without charge and a plan prepared with an estimate of cost. 

 If the plan is acceptable to the organization or person applying for it the 

 State furnishes the trees without cost and the work of planting is done by 

 the local Forest Warden under the supervision of the State Forester and 

 paid for by the organization or person making the application and guaran- 

 teeing the expense. 



3. That no one be allowed to cut or. injure any roadside tree, place 

 posters or signboards along any highway, or upon private property without 

 the consent of the owner. 



4. That the State Forester may use State funds in making demonstra- 

 tions of tree planting along roadsides or in caring for existing trees. 



5. An appropriation of $5,000 annually is carried by the Bill for grow- 

 ing trees, making planting plans and for demonstration work in roadside 

 planting in the State. 



The purpose of the proposed law is to place the care of roadside trees 

 in the hands of the State Board of Forestry, an existing organization, ex- 

 tending over the entire State through its Forest Wardens. In this way the 

 administrative expenses will be small and almost the entire appropriation 

 can be devoted to the growing of trees for roadside planting. The law has 

 been framed particularly to meet conditions here, and its adoption will 

 place Maryland in the front rank of the States making suitable provision 

 for beautifying and protecting its roadsides. 



