but also much to criticise in their tree planting methods and practice. 

 Cities are too often negligent in not taking precautions to protect the 

 street and park trees already planted. 



The demand for trees of suitable sizes and species for various kinds 

 of planting is very great in Northwest Texas. Instances without number 

 are recorded where farmers in the Panhandle counties have driven ten 

 miles or more to secure a few black locust sprouts for setting out on their 

 farms. Prairie farms nicely planted with ornamental trees and shelter- 

 belts to protect orchards, gardens and buildings make one of the most 

 beautiful pictures of the plains country. Similar farms without trees, no 

 matter how well the grounds are kept, are positively ugly in comparisoii. 

 Nearly every farmer realizes this and is anxious to plant trees. Tree 

 planting for fuel, posts and protection from winds, as well as for ornament, 

 is only beginning in this region. The State Forester believes that one of 

 his most important duties is to make tree planting easy for the plains 

 people by establishing one or more State nurseries where large numbers 

 of trees may be grown and distributed at the actual cost of growing 

 them. In no section of Texas or of the United States is Inhere a greater 

 demand for trees than in the Panhandle or is there greater difficulty in 

 securing them. Most commercial nursery dealers are far removed from 

 the region and moreover, they chiefly grow fruit trees and do not handle 

 forest or ornamental trees in sufficient numbers so that they can afford 

 to sell them cheaply. A State nursery would be a tremendous stimulus 

 to tree planting of all kinds and would eventually benefit commercial 

 nursery dealers themselves. The State of Kansas and many other States 

 have long ago established State nurseries in connection with their State 

 Forestry Departments from which trees are distributed at the actual cost 

 of raising them. 



Examinations for Cities, Corporations and Individuals. 



In accordance with the Forestry Act of 1915 the State Forester has 

 rendered every assistance possible to all interests in the State along 

 various lines of forestry and tree planting work. During the year the 

 Forestry Department has been called upon by officials in Dallas, San 

 Antonio, Denton, Orange and other cities and towns to advise as to the 

 care of their trees or to recommend plans for the improvement and per- 

 manent supervision of street and park tree work In the city of Dallas the 

 assistance rendered has resulted in the appointment of a City Forester 

 to take charge of all street tree work in the city. 



The Department has assisted a number of boards of trade and cham- 

 bers of commerce throughout the State to secure data relative to the 

 carrying out of economic projects involving the use of wood and timber. 

 The study of mesquite was made at the request of the San Antonio Cham- 

 ber of Commerce. Investigations are also underway which may lead ta 

 the use of bois d'Arc and new woods from the Rio Grande country in the 

 making of dyes. 



Examinations of city street trees have been made at the request of 

 gas and light companies to determine the causes of injury to certain trees. 



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