CHAPTER XII. 

 LABELLING SHADE TREES 



THE close observer often wonders why so little atten- 

 tion has been paid to labelling the shade trees of our 

 towns and cities. 



Somebody has said that the effect of reading a label 

 on a tree previously unidentified is like an introduction to 

 a stranger, in that it creates an interest otherwise lacking. 



Where the trees are labelled, the observer will find 

 visitors stopping to study the markings and showing gen- 

 uine interest in the information. Where there are no 

 labels he will note people vainly trying to establish the 

 identity of the trees. 



The newly developed interest in shade trees, through- 

 out the country, carries with it an aroused demand for 

 definite information as to species. For a community 

 to make liberal expenditures for tree planting and then 

 stop short of labels is a mistake in policy. The cost of 

 planting is expressed in dollars; the added expense for 

 labels is a matter of cents. Since the success of the move- 

 ment for shade tree development is largely a question of 

 education, it is obvious that the more we do to make trees 

 popular the greater will be the public interest in their 

 planting and protection. Labels will play an important 

 and necessary part in this educational work, and may 

 therefore be counted as having a vital influence for the 

 beautification of the community. 



Until quite recently practically none of the cities of 



America have undertaken to label the trees in adequate 



fashion. In some communities one finds an occasional 



label, but too often even this has become illegible and 



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