dentally the cambium layer of cells in that part of the tree has 

 been destroyed and the nutritive processes of the tree have to that 

 extent become deranged. There now stands a tree, its doom sealed 

 and its glory departed. That which has been a thing of beauty and 

 a tower of strength is now a thing to be ashamed of and in its 

 weakness has become a thing to fear. Yes — to fear. For decay 

 has gone so far that now the trunk is no longer stout enough to 

 hold up the heavy top. The tree is liable to come down with a 

 crash at any time, especially in a storm. So that that friendly 

 growing thing which had offered man its beauty and its kindly 

 shade now offers man a threat — has become an upstanding menace 

 to man's life, limb and property. 



Now who's to blame? Come, who is to blame? NOT THE 

 HORSE. Settle that at the start, NOT the horse. He but does 

 what man would do were man a horse. Then the driver is to 

 blame, you say. Well, yes, in part. But the individual on whom 

 ninety-nine per cent, of the guilt abides is the owner of the property 

 in front of which the murdered tree stands. That's the party to 

 blame. For a few dimes he could have safeguarded that tree abso- 

 lutely from the horse's teeth. A wire guard would have done it. 

 A wire guard — that's all. In towns and cities the trunk of every 

 tree, whether young or old, newly planted or in full growth, should 

 be enclosed to a proper height in a guard. For the young trees the 

 guard should entirely surround the trunk, and should be made of 

 no less durable material than half -inch mesh No. 16 wire, gal- 

 vanized, lined with a collar of rubber hose to prevent chafing. This 

 would cost at retail about 35 cents. For the older trees a wire 

 screen on the side of the tree toward the roadway would suffice. 

 This should also be of half-inch mesh galvanized wire No. 16. It 

 would cost at retail about five cents per square foot. This simple 

 expedient would effectually protect our street trees from the teeth 

 of the horse. Every property owner, for his own sake, should thus 

 guard the trees abutting his tracts of realty. It costs little, achieves 

 much and ends the havoc wrought by the horse. 



HELP WANTED— YES, AND NEEDED 



Throughout this report we have been trying to engage the in- 

 terest and help of the public in these our labors for parks and trees. 

 We may here lay down a general principle which applies to these 

 matters all around. That principle is that no Commission, be its 

 resources what they may, can do all for the trees and parks that 

 ought to be, and indeed needs to be, done unless such Commission 

 has the widespread and cordial cooperation of the public. Given 



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