T 



CHAPTER XX. 



MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF SHADE TREES 



O make street tree planting successful and satisfac- 

 tory there must be one central head charged with full 

 responsibility and armed with authority to establish and 

 enforce suitable regulations. This is necessary in order 

 to bring about systematic choice of species for planting, 

 to insure correct spacing between trees, and to provide 

 for proper pruning as well as adequate protection 

 against insects and diseases. 



This central control is just as important in connection 

 with trees as in the matter of sewer systems, water-pipes, 

 sidewalks and paving. Public health and convenience 

 make it necessary for these improvements to be in the 

 hands of city or town or district authorities, and the pub- 

 lic's interest in the shade trees of the community calls for 

 giving them similar treatment. When individual tastes 

 and preferences in the matter of shade trees are permitted 

 to control, one man may plant a Silver Maple, the man 

 next door choose an Ailanthus, another select the Norway 

 Maple, and near at hand may come in bewildering suc- 

 cession a Scarlet Oak, a Sycamore, a Tulip, a Sugar 

 Maple and a Horse Chestnut. The result of this wide 

 variation of choice is certain to present a riot of size, 

 shape and coloring as the trees develop and their widely 

 different characteristics become emphasized. Such a 

 street will have an uneven and ragged appearance satis- 

 factory to no one. 



Each street shade tree should be looked upon in its 



relationship to all the other trees along that street, or, at 



any rate, to those along a particular part of the thorough- 



223 



