Ornamental and Shade Trees 



A Department for the Adz-ice and Instruction of Members of the American Forestry Association 



Edited by J. J. Levison, B.A., M.F. 

 Arboriculturist Brooklyn Park Department, Author of "Studies of Trees," and Lecturer on Ornamental and Shade 



Trees, Yale University Forest School 



PARKS AND THE PUBLIC 



MUNICIPAL parks and the trees on our streets 

 are not. as is generally supposed, intended for 

 the mere pleasure of the people. In many re- 

 spects they play as important a part in the development 

 of the citizen as any other of the mediums purposing his 

 betterment. What a wonderful training school the parks 

 could be turned into for the development of character, 

 for training the observative powers and the aesthetic 

 judgment, for physical improvement and for inspiring 

 the youth with a love for all that is wholesome and 

 refined. 



Much as has already been said about the influence of 

 city trees and parks on the public welfare, trees as an 

 aid to public health is a subject which has been discussed 



quite often and hardly needs comment here. Trees as an 

 aid to the city beautiful needs no argument when one but 

 glances at the accompanying photographs. Buildings 

 and bridges can only be made a part of a beautiful land- 

 scape when properly set off by trees and shrubs, but can- 

 not be made the principal feature of a charming landscape 

 without the trees and shrubs. 



The value of trees to the citizen has even been discussed 

 from the educational and moral point of view. But 

 wherein the park and estate superintendents and city 

 foresters can be of help in bringing the trees and shrubs 

 in closest touch with the public has not yet been discussed 

 to any extent and this is the object of the following lines. 



The program for the park authorities is a wide one and 



A IIRIDCK IN TIllC HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, PARK 

 '"^r,"n^r?^e'wUhTtl"^'ard'm,urcTtr'l"''L';fl'"^,''M'''''" "f ^ 'T"^! "'''"= ^"'^^' '" "^^ ""' 'andscape. Any other form of hri.lge- 



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