: 



1900. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



299 



NEWS, NOTES, AND COMMENT. 



In the FORESTER for Oc- 

 A Correction. tober there appeared in this 



department (p. 248) a quo- 

 tation from a paper in New York State 

 about "Gypsy Moth Colonies" in Massa- 

 chusetts. In the course of this it was said 

 that a flourishing colony had been found 

 in an evergreen hedge on a neglected farm 

 n West Medford, and that this hedge was 

 n the care of a man who opposed an ap- 

 Dropriation for the Gypsy Moth Commis- 

 sion. We have been informed that the 

 ledge is on an estate which is well cared 

 : or, and that, as far as the gypsy moth is 

 :oncerned, the hedge was until a year ago 

 inder the care of the Gypsy Moth Cotn- 

 nission. Our correspondent writes that 

 ecently one hundred egg clusters were 

 ound which could have been seen by the 

 nspectors in 1899, and that over twelve 

 lundred have been discovered which have 

 >een laid since. 



^ 



lonference with On November 23d, the Mas- 

 lassachu setts sachusetts Forestry Associa- 

 te Wardens. tion hdc j a mee ting in Bos- 

 on to discuss the workings of the so-called 

 ree warden act which went into effect last 

 pring. The tree wardens from the dif- 

 erent towns had been invited to attend 

 he meeting and over fifty of them were 

 >resent. Their verdict seemed to be that 

 he law was a good one, that public senti- 

 nent was surely behind it, and that it 

 ould and would be rigidly enforced. It 

 nust further have been most encouraginsr 



~ O 



o the Forestry Association as the author 

 it the Act to note the high class of men 

 vho had been chosen for this post by the 

 ifty or more towns represented at the con- 

 erence. Two of the wardens for instance, 

 >ne from the eastern the other from the 

 vestern part of the State, were among the 

 nost eminent members of the legal profes- 

 ion. Both of these wardens spoke in high 

 ommendation of the law. On the whole 

 he meeting was not only exceedingly grat- 

 Eying to the Forestry Association but 

 roved of the greatest value to the Associa- 



tion's committee on legislation and, it is 

 hoped, to the wardens present as well. 



This tree warden law (Chapter 330, 

 Acts of 1899) obliges every town in' the 

 State to elect annually an officer known as 

 a tree warden. Cities do not come under 

 this Act. Separate provision will prob- 

 ably be made for them later on. The 

 warden has exclusive care and control of 

 all public shade trees in the town outside 

 of such grounds as may be under the con- 

 trol of a board of park commissioners. 

 The law also specifies that all trees within 

 the limits of the highways are deemed to 

 be public shade trees. No tree on the 

 highways can be cut down without the 

 warden's consent, and this consent he can- 

 not give without first posting notice upon 

 the tree in question and in two other pub- 

 lic places in which he calls a hearing. 

 Even after a hearing the warden's decision 

 is final. Adequate penalties are provided 

 in the shape of fines and imprisonment for 

 all violations of the provisions of the law. 

 The law is specific as to the duties of the 

 wardens, and under it every root and twig 

 is protected from mutilation. No posters 

 are permitted on the trees, and electrical 

 companies are required to run their wires 

 in accordance with the warden's wishes. 

 When it is absolutely necessary that wires 

 should pass through the tops of street trees, 

 and trimming is required to gi\v free pas- 

 sage, the warden's men do the cutting 

 under the direction of that officer but ;it 

 the expense of the corporation therein' ac- 

 commodated. 



A Society 

 of American 

 Foresters. 



During the last week in No- 

 vember a Society of Amer- 

 ican Foresters \\.is founded 

 in Washington. It has not yet been I'ulK 

 organized; but its character and objcci- 

 are delinitel\ scientific and only profes- 

 sional foresters will be eligible for regular 

 membership. An associate membership 

 will make possible the election of men who, 

 though not foresters, make notable contri- 

 butions to American Forestry. 



