32 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY [1912-13 



under the conditions imposed upon them by the cities and 

 towns. 



The greatest damage now being done to trees, is by the 

 gypsy, the brown-tail and the leopard moths, borers, elm beetle, 

 and the elm-bark beetle, — this last being the latest pest that 

 tree wardens have to contend with. 



He advised the keeping of the office of tree warden out of 

 politics. In nine cases out of ten, an officer thus elected will 

 not be the right man for the place. He also advised meetings of 

 the friends of the trees, and lectures on their ills, illustrated if 

 possible. 



In speaking of mutilation, Mr. Guild said that no work 

 should be done on any trees except by the officers, and remarked 

 that the damage done by irresponsible persons is great. He 

 mentioned the necessity of preventing wires to cross or be 

 attached to trees, and said that spurs should not be used in 

 climbing trees. He also said that pruning, watering, and 

 fertilizing, all help to prolong the life of trees, and that much 

 harm is done by horses being allowed to nibble the bark of the 

 tree to which they are tied. 



Continuing, Mr. Guild discussed the conditions of trees on 

 the state highways, and told of the value of expert advice 

 regarding them. He spoke of the neglect of the trees by the 

 public, and said that in most places this neglect is great, it is 

 left to the city and state to care for the trees. He gave Cam- 

 bridge as an example, calling attention to the numbe*^ of dead 

 and neglected trees there. He also said that the appropria- 

 tions for the care of the trees, in the average city and town, is 

 from 30c. to 40c. per tree; but in Washington, D. C, this 

 appropriation amounts to from 75c. to 80c. per tree. He went on 

 to say that experts claim that the purely monetary value of 

 trees is immense, being $75.00 per sq. ft. of dimension, making 

 a tree with a 16-inch diameter worth $100.00. He referred to 

 the New York Court of Appeals as an authority for this state- 

 ment. 



A discussion followed the meeting, and many interesting 

 facts were brought out. Answering one question, Mr. Guild 



