30 THE TREE DOCTOR 



to blame, as every one in planting did ''the best he knew how.") 

 The wrong kinds have been selected and, almost invariably, in 

 towns, have been set in the wrong place. Even when put in an 

 improper place, all trouble might have been avoided by gradu- 

 jally carrying. the head of the tree higher up by the removal of 

 (the lower branches, so that the bottom branches are fifteen or 

 twenty feet from the ground, and all wires go under the 



Photo 20 

 The Work of Ignorant Tree Men. 



branches. See how nicely this could be accomplished in the 

 case shown in Photo 17. But where would there be a chance to 

 do this in the case presented in Photo 18? (These are telephone 

 wires, and the "line" ought to be in the field). 



Really,, the situation is complicated and often serious. 

 \Yhile the men who construct the line are often "ugly" and 

 brutal, and take every advantage to "get through" a tree when 

 they are not being watched, vet, be it said to the credit of some 



