4 Introductory 



and carelessness; a little care at the proper time would have 

 saved the in\-cstment which cannot be duplicated in the 

 owner's Hfetime. 



In almost every small and large town in the United States 

 there has been a remarkable activity in the planting of 

 street trees during the last fifty years; but for the lack of 

 care the majority, perhaps, of these trees have become 

 cripples, doomed sooner or later to an untimely death. 

 The public usually recognizes only the foUage and the 

 shade, and fails to observe the insidious work of fungi, 

 induced through breakages and bad pruning, and over- 

 looks the unsightly scars and wounds and stubs which 

 bring about this premature decline and death — all for 

 lack of care. 



To make owners of shade and ornamental trees more 

 sensible to the care and attention which their property 

 demands, to give them not only more interest but also spe- 

 cific advice, a "first aid" toward a knowledge of what this 

 care should be, and to assist tree-wardens in caring for their 

 charges with more circumspection, this book is written. 



It is hoped that the perusal of these pages will enable any 

 interested owner of trees to make himself intelhgent as to 

 the nature of trees, to help himself in most cases in their 

 care, to avoid foolish practices advised by the quacks, and 

 to superintend intelligently the execution of professional 

 advice. For this purpose it is necessary first to have some 

 knowledge of the life of trees and of their behavior in nor- 

 mal conditions, for then only will it be possible to recognize 

 abnormal conditions, to diagnose disease, and understand 

 the rationale in the use of the remedies. 



It must, however, never be forgotten that the judgment of 

 an experienced man is sometimes necessary to diagnose the 

 case correctly, and to prescribe for it. 



