Introductory Statement to Report Submitted by Professor 

 Laurie D. Cox of The New York State College of Forestry 

 at Syracuse University to Hon. Cabot Ward, Park Com- 

 missioner of New York City 



By HUGH P. BAKER 



The New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse 

 University, which was established by legislative action in 

 1911, is obligated in its charter to carry on educational work 

 in Forestry wherever that may be needed in the State 

 equally with the training of young men at Syracuse. It 

 therefore developed, early in 1912, its Extension Service in 

 Forestry for the giving of illustrated lectures and demon- 

 strations in forestry. As a part of the Extension Service it 

 began in 1912 studies and practical demonstrations which 

 would assist rural communities and cities in the beautifica- 

 tion of highways, country roads, streets, parks and public 

 grounds generally. This work was done both for the pur- 

 pose of making the results of general educational value in 

 the State and with the idea of using the trees about the 

 homes of the people and along roadways and highways and 

 in parks as the means of creating a better understanding by 

 the people of the actual forestry needs of the State. 



When early in 1914 the Tree Planting Association of New 

 York City, of which Dr. Stephen Smith is president, asked 

 the College what it could do in cooperating with the Associa- 

 tion to find out the condition of trees and the extent and 

 nature of tree planting in New York City and through this 

 knowledge evolve a proper system of tree planting, the Col- 

 lege stated at once that it would be glad to lend one of its 

 landscape engineers during an entire summer season. The 

 Tree Planting Association accepted the suggestion of the 

 College and Professor Henry R. Francis, in charge of the 



an 



