N r o. 4.] SHADE-TREE INSECT PROBLEM. 107 



ipal offices the spoils of political victory has as bad an 

 effect on shade trees as it has upon schools, fire departments 

 or police forces. Illustrations of this point can be found in 

 cities which shall be nameless, where the hand of politics 

 has dropped incompetent men into offices nominally in charge 

 of miles of shade trees, — cities where the elm-leaf beetle 

 and tussock moth have actually killed valuable elms, while 

 those in charge failed to lift a finger until irretrievable 

 damage had occurred, and then contented themselves with 

 sweeping the insects into the gutters, to be farther distrib- 

 uted by showers. 



All this is not in keeping with the spirit of the times, 

 and it is the citizens' duty to ask and obtain a change. 

 Springfield, Worcester, Northampton, Plymouth and scores 

 of other municipalities have shown what can be done by 

 intelligent, well-directed effort. The successful prosecu- 

 tion of this work is creditable alike to those in charge and 

 to the enlightened sentiment of a public that has made it 

 possible. 



We said at the outset that perhaps it was well that audible 

 speech had been denied our grand old shade trees. Yet, 

 lacking voices, they have spoken to men like Gilbert White, 

 Thoreau, Whittier, Holmes and Bryant, — men in broad 

 and complete sympathy with nature in all her forms. And 

 sympathy was the key which unlocked the portals and let 

 them into closest association with the whole living world. 

 We need more of this feeling for all manifestations of life. 

 And when we obtain it, we too may hold converse with the 

 tree guardians of our dwellings and streets. Let us so act 

 that the messages they may bring us shall not be the sad 

 notes of neglect or reproach, but rather the sweet harmony 

 of a beautiful, peaceful existence. 



Ex-Governor Hoard. The lecturer spoke very slight- 

 ingly of the English sparrow, and I do not owe him very 

 much good-will, but I do know a few things about him, 

 and I am impressed with the thought of where the English 

 sparrow gets its food for its young ; for every single bird on 

 earth, except the pigeon, feeds its young on animal food, and 



