It is desired to call attention to chapter 196 of the Acts 

 of 1890, as amended by chapter 49 of the Acts of 1891. 

 As amended, the hiw is as follows : — 



Section 1. The ma3'or and aldermen of the cities and the 

 selectmen of the towns within the Commonwealth are hereby au- 

 thorized to designate and preserve, as hereinafter provided in this 

 act, trees within the limits of the highways for the purposes of 

 ornament and shade ; and to so designate not less than one such 

 tree in every thirty-three feet where such trees are growing and are 

 of a diameter of one inch or more. 



Sect. 2. Said mayor and aldermen and selectmen shall, between 

 the first day of September and the thirty-first day of December in 

 each year, designate such trees as are selected by them for the 

 purposes set forth in this act by driving into the same, at a point 

 not less than four nor more than six feet from the ground and on 

 the side toward the centre of the highway, a nail or spike with a 

 head with the letter M plainly impressed upon it ; said nails and 

 spikes to be procured and furnished by the secretary of the state 

 board of agriculture to said mayor and aldermen and selectmen as 

 required by them for the purposes of this act. Said mayor and 

 aldermen and selectmen, between the first day of September and 

 the thirty-first day of December of each succeeding year, shall 

 renew such of said nails and spikes as shall have been destroyed or 

 defaced ; and shall also designate, in the same manner as herein- 

 before stated, such other trees as in their judgment should be so 

 designated to carry out the requirements of this act. 



Sect. 3. Whoever wantonly injures, defaces or destroys any 

 tree thus designated, or any of said nails or spikes affixed to such 

 trees, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred 

 dollars, to be recovered by complaint, one-half to the complainant 

 and one-half to the use of the town wherein the offence was com- 

 mitted. 



Sect. 4. This act shall not apply to ornamental or shade trees 

 whose preservation is now provided for by chapter fifty-four of the 

 Public Statutes and the acts amendatory thereof. 



The requisite nails or spikes have been procured by the 

 secretary of the Board of Agriculture, and he is prepared to 

 furnish them, on request of selectmen of towns or mayor and 

 aldermen of cities, for the purposes set forth in the act above 

 mentioned. 



