WINTER MEETINGS IN FULL 



Thursday, Jan. 11, 1912. 



THE TREE WARDEN'S OPPORTUNITY. 

 Irving T. Guild. 



President Edward W. Breed, of Clinton, made the introduc- 

 tory address. After welcoming, he called attention to the dis- 

 play of orchids, which were submitted by George McWilliam, 

 of Whitinsville, whose reputation as an orchid grower is attract- 

 ing much attention in the horticultural world. The display of 

 calenthes was for exhibition only, but the calanthe laselliane, a 

 new variety recently produced by Mr. McWilliam, was the 

 topic for much discussion after the meeting. The flower was 

 produced from the McWilliamii seed parent, crossed with 

 calanthea vestita oculata gigantea, the pollen parent. 



Pres. Breed then introduced Irving T. Guild, of Boston, who 

 was formerly secretary of the Massachusetts Forestry Associa- 

 tion. 



Mr. Guild spoke of the excellent code of shade tree laws which 

 exists in Massachusetts, and said thnt every Massachusetts 

 city or town which is noted for its beauty, owes its charm 

 largely to its shade trees. 



There are five principal causes for poor trees in Massachu- 

 setts. They are as follows: 



1. Lack of capable officers in charge. 



2. Artificial conditions which are unfavorable. 



3. Mutilation and careless pruning. 



4. Insects and disease. 



5. Old age. 



Trees suffer less from the last cause than from the first. There 

 is an age limH for all trees, but they seldom reach that limit 



