A CIVILIAN PROGRAM FOR TREE PROTECTION 



By Malcolm A. McKenzie, Research Professor of Botany i 



INTRODUCTION 



The appreciation of shade trees, widespread in the life of the American people, 

 is of paramount importance in Massachusetts, and in the spring of 1942 there 

 was a marked increase in the number of requests for the investigation of tree 

 casualties. Trees were reported to be afflicted with diseases and other defects 

 and the urgency of the demand for the completion of field and laboratory studies 

 was promptly recognized. 



Healthy trees should be highly prized by all communities, but seriously weak- 

 ened trees may be dangerous liabilities. A tree or limb which falls on a highway 

 (Fig. 1) may injure a pedestrian, delay the transportation of troops and war 

 materials, damage an automobile, or destroy electric light, telephone, fire alarm 

 and telegraph services. During normal times the temporary incapacity of the 

 injured person may not be a serious loss, damage to an automobile may be covered 

 by insurance, and the public utilities' supply of replacements may be ample for 

 all demands. During wartime, however, delay in movement of men and material 

 and the loss of man hours is tragic, a destroyed automobile is irreplaceable and 

 the loss of electric light, telephone, fire alarm and telegraph service may mean 

 failure in transmission of air-raid and fire alarms and in mobilization of aid. Air 

 bases, air fields, defense centers, and military or naval defense areas may be 

 isolated and unable to function. Therefore, these investigations were undertaken 

 with the twofold purpose of learning what significant defects were present in 

 trees and what treatment might be given to prevent damage to persons and 

 property. From one point of view the objectives are closely related. A tree 

 which is or can be made reasonably sound can be a reasonably safe tree. The 

 cruxes of the problem are the recognition of various tree defects and the timing 

 of their discovery and treatment. 



The Massachusetts law (G. L. chap. 87) provides that each municipality be 

 officered by a person responsible for "all trees within a public way or on the 

 boundaries thereof"; in towns, a tree warden; in cities, a forester or corresponding 

 official. In section 1 of chapter 41 of the General Laws, the term of offic" for 

 tree wardens in towns was limited to one year. If, however, a town adopts the 

 amendment passed by the General Court in 1939, the tree warden may ha^■e a 

 term of three years, thereby providing for a measure of continuity for municipal 

 tree programs. Very serious consideration should be given to the matter of 

 providing adequate appropriations for tree work, and as an emergency measure 

 a supplementary program for tree protection under the direction of the tree war- 

 den or other responsible officer appears necessary and is recommended. 



1 The writer is indebted to Professor A. Vincent Osmun, Head, Department of Botany for 

 valuable assistance, suggestions and criticisms during tlie preparation of this bulletin. Acknowl- 

 edgment is also made to Dr. S. J. Ewer, Technical Assistant in Botany, for criticism of the manu- 

 script and the preparation of certain of the illustrations. The helpful interest of the Massachusetts 

 Tree Wardens' and Foresters' Association, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Massa- 

 chusetts Forest and Park Association, the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company the 

 Western Massachusetts Companies, the Boston Edison Company, the Municipal Lighting Associa- 

 tion of Massachusetts, the New England Power Association, the New England Gas and Electric 

 Association and the New England Section of the International Municipal Signal Association has 

 played an important part in completing this work; particular credit should be given to Mr A 

 Warren Stewart, President of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens' and Foresters' Association 



