CHAPTER XII 



A DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL ARBORICULTURE 



No matter by what legislative provision a town or city 

 establishes a shade-tree department, its task after organiza- 

 tion should be the same, namely : to secure the very best 

 results obtainable in street decoration for the benefit of the 

 whole city, according to the most approved scientific prin- 

 ciples and methods. The laws of Massachusetts provide for 

 the appointment of tree wardens in towns. The statutes of 

 New Jersey and Pennsylvania provide for the establishment 

 of commissions to have the control of trees along public 

 highways. As practically operated the commissioners serve 

 as an organization, and they employ a trained arboriculturist 

 who has charge of the executive work. 



OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF STREET-TREES 



To secure the best results there must be one official to 

 carry out the duties which a shade-tree department de- 

 mands. Those in charge of city trees have been variously 

 designated as "Tree Wardens," "Tree Doctors," and City 

 Foresters. ' ' The writer has always felt that to call one 

 charged with the preservation and care of shade-trees a 

 "forester" is a wrong application of that word. He agrees 

 with Dr. Fernow 1 that the term "Tree Warden" is a more 

 expressive title for such an official. The term "Arboricul- 

 turist" is also a very apt one. A forester is concerned with 



1 "The Care of Trees," by Bernhard E. Fernow. 



244 



