SHADE TREES. 255 



VALUATION OF SHADE TREES. 



The valuation of shade trees is a very important question, and opinions 

 on the subject often differ greatly. There are several different ways of 

 arriving at the value of a shade tree, but in all of them the many factors 

 modifying the value of a tree must be taken into consideration. 



Since a tree planted for its shade, ornamental purposes, etc., possesses 

 a utilitarian or property value, its real worth is usually represented by 

 the cost of duplication. The amount of reduction in value of property from 

 the loss of a tree is simply equivalent to the value of the tree, which in turn 

 is represented by the amount it would cost to duplicate it. There .is a 

 limit to the size of tree that can successfully be transplanted, but it is 

 possible to duplicate an 18-inch tree, and the value of trees that are too 

 large to transplant may be estimated proportionately. 



The transplanting of large trees is thoroughly practicable when done 

 by men who understand it. A tree 6 inches in diameter may be moved 

 for from S6 to 820, and one 14 inches in diameter for from $30 to S80, 

 depending upon the availability of transplanting apparatus and of suitable 

 trees. 



Another method of determining the value of a tree, mentioned briefly 

 above and often used in court, is to determine the decrease in value of the 

 real estate affected by the loss of the tree, and expert appraisers of prop- 

 erty are usually called in when this method is used. 1 



This method has its limitations, for real estate men are not necessarily 

 familiar with all the factors affecting the value of a tree, diseases, ex- 

 pectation of life, etc., which must be taken into consideration; conse- 

 quently, they often set the value too high or too low. Moreover, the 

 price per foot of real estate has little or nothing to do with the real value 

 of a tree, which may be worth as much on a piece of property valued at 

 $2,000 as on one valued at $6,000. As a matter of fact, the trees located on 

 real estate have very little effect on the price obtained for the property, 

 this depending much more upon the ability of the salesman. Then, too, 

 while trees, shrubbery and other ornamental planting undoubtedly add 

 value to property, it is a question whether the buyer often very seriously 

 considers this fact when it comes to actually paying over his money. 

 A tree is likely to be destroyed at any time by wind storms, lightning, 

 etc., in which case it is impossible to recover damages, and it therefore 

 does not appeal to the average buyer as a substantial property asset. 

 Trees may be insured, but the writer's experience is that comparatively 

 few persons regard trees as of sufficient value to warrant much expendi- 

 ture. This is substantiated by the fact that in only a few cases, where 

 trees have been destroyed by public-service corporations, and damages 

 paid for them, have we observed any attempt to replace the dead trees 



1 Many trees attain to a diameter of at least 18 inches, and in many cases even more, in fifty 

 years. Assuming that it costs $2 to plant a tree, and that it is worth $150 at this age and size when 

 in good condition, the return on the original investment would be 9 per cent., compound interest. 



