1 50 TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 



colliding with unprotected trees, from draymen backing 

 their trucks against them sharply, while porters or labor 

 ers scrape branches or trunk with merchandise in loading 

 or unloading. Such carelessness will largely be curbed if 

 it is known that an alert official is watching the trees, and 

 that punishment will be meted out for damage done. 



The top of a tree may sustain either direct or indirect 

 injury from overhead wires. Linemen should not be 

 allowed to cut limbs for the stringing of wires, nor should 

 they be permitted to attach wires to any part of a tree. 

 In most cases it will be found that the apparent necessity 

 for either of these things can be averted by careful con 

 sideration of other ways and means for the placing of 

 the wires. Even when this is done, it is sometimes neces 

 sary that wires pass through a tree-top, and in such cases, 

 close watchfulness is required, and if trimming is essential, 

 it should be done by the city employees, not by the 

 linemen. A swaying wire may cause serious abrasion, 

 with possible death for the part affected, especially after 

 insulation is worn from electric light or power wires. 

 Linemen should never be permitted to wear spurs in 

 climbing trees, as the sharp points make serious wounds 

 in bark and wood through which disease and decay could 

 enter. Broken limbs and split or torn bark are sequels 

 to severe storms or heavy snowfall, and many trees have 

 been lost as a result of neglect to care for the wounds. In 

 most cases the loss was needless. Even when badly mu 

 tilated, trees may be saved for long careers of usefulness 

 and beauty if given prompt and intelligent attention. 



Injury to the roots occurs in the installation of sewers 

 and conduits, the laying of gas and water pipes, the plac 

 ing of paving in street or on sidewalk, the changing of 

 grade, and similar types of construction. Work on these 

 improvements is almost certain to cause the cutting or 



