242 TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 



each tree. After the planting has been completed, the cost 

 is certified to the taxation authorities, to be assessed 

 against the property directly affected. This assessment 

 becomes a lien on the property and the taxes are collected 

 with other taxes. Funds for maintaining the shade tree 

 department are derived from a tax in an amount not to 

 exceed ^ of a mill on the dollar of assessed valuation in the 

 municipality. 



The law authorizes the commissions to pass ordinances 

 covering all phases of planting, protection, regulation and 

 control of shade trees. These have proved extremely 

 efficient in protecting trees from damage by electric light, 

 telephone and telegraph companies and other public util- 

 ities and in preventing wilful or malicious injury by indi- 

 viduals. Shade trees need protection and it is only 

 through the operation of laws, with proper penalties, that 

 this protection can be given. 



The shade tree laws of Massachusetts, as codified and 

 revised in 191 5, make it compulsory for every town to 

 elect a tree warden, to have charge of the planting and 

 care of shade trees. His powers are very definite and he is 

 responsible for proper shade tree development in his com- 

 munity. In cities, there are no tree wardens, but the 

 duties and responsibilities created under the shade tree 

 law are imposed on such city officials as have charge of the 

 care of trees. In addition to outlining the duties and 

 powers of the town and city authorities, the law also 

 provides that the tree warden of a town or the proper 

 officials of a city may pass special ordinances and regula- 

 tions governing shade trees, adapting these regulations to 

 local conditions, but without conflict with the state law. 



In the protection of trees along public thoroughfares 

 the Massachusetts law has proved itself very efficient, but 

 it has not accomplished as much as the laws of some other 



