30 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 397 



CONCLUSION 



Safe Trees the Minimiivi Requirement. In former years ffderal funds for 

 public works supplemented local appropriations and permitted many com- 

 munities to give needed care to municipally owned trees. More recently, war 

 activities have absorbed the personnel previously employed in this work to such 

 an extent that even when additional appropriations for tree work are available, 

 it is not always possible to have the work completed. In spite of obstacles, how- 

 ever, safe trees must be the minimum requirement for municipal tree piograms. 



Responsibility and Organization. Unless some wa}' can be found to distribute 

 more adequately the responsibility for tree work, the number of trees neglected 

 over one or two years may increase to a point where no amount of community 

 organization can solve the problem. Already an increase in wire interference by 

 trees has been reported by the public utilities. It is essential that civilian and 

 military workers be protected while travelling in the public way; it is also essen- 

 tial that the communication and power lines be maintained with the least possible 

 disruption. Public utilities are keenly aware of their responsibility in maintain,- 

 ing vital service lines and are prepared to do their part in eliminating tree hazards. 

 Their supplies for replacements and new equipment are critically limited. Repairs 

 are costly and preventable accidents are wasteful. Many tree injuries can be 

 treated and many impending tree accidents can be prevented. Civilians have 

 organized themselves into groups for protection against air raids and invas'on 

 and, in the light of mounting tree casualties and resultant property damage, it 

 would be well to provide for tree protection as a supplement to the civilian de- 

 fense program. 



Know your Tree Warden. Massachusetts is especially fortunate in having a 

 tree warden in every community as a key man about whom to rally in this 

 important activity. Advance information concerning a weakened tree may 

 save a life, a life line, and a tree. Tree waidens may further enhance their already 

 distinguished service throughout Mastachusetts by organizing corps of civilian 

 inspectors, and supervising their activities. Such a corps might well consist of 

 representat'ves from the following organizations: Mas&achuseltc Horticultural 

 Society, Garden Club, Women's Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Massachusetts Forest 

 and Park Association, Massachusetts Safety Council — in fact, all groups inter- 

 ested in civic affairs; in addition to representatives from the wire-using agencies, 

 such as power, municipal light, telephone, police and fire alarm telegraph. With- 

 out doubt, these organizations will aid the tree warden by nominating or recom- 

 mending qualified and interested civilians to serve with and assist the wardep 

 in processing such a protection program. The public can cooperate effectively 

 by discovering and reporting defects in trees to the local tree department. 



MY TREE WARDEN'S NAME 



STREET ADDRESS 



TELEPHONE NUMBER 



