Introductory 3 
forester, although, to secure the object in either case, the 
nature and life history of trees must be understood. On 
the other hand, no more fitting title, no better description 
of the duties of those who are set to care for our roadside 
trees or our city trees in street and park could be invented 
than that of ‘“tree-warden,” a most expressive, dignified, 
and honorable designation. 
To the owner of trees who appreciates the value of his 
property and who realizes that it is an investment which 
can be duplicated only in time and by time, it is not neces- 
sary to point out that it is worth his while to take care of 
it. No millionaire can replace the ancient spreading oak 
or the shapely old elm in his lawn by any amount of expend- 
iture: these are the heirlooms of hundreds of years, and 
years alone can replace them. The Massachusetts courts 
adjudging the value of shade trees in damage as from $150 
to $200 hardly come up to the full appreciation of their 
full worth. Even though it is possible to transplant full- 
grown old trees, it cannot be done with assurance of success, 
or at least not without interference with the natural form 
of the crown; in any case such transplants are a hazard. 
On the other hand, trees in place may be rendered almost 
imperishable by proper care and attention. 
To bring about this result requires some knowledge of 
the nature of trees, and also of the ills that may befall them. 
It is only through such knowledge that we are able to guard 
against the diseases and dangers which destroy prematurely 
so many valuable specimens on our lawns, and in our streets 
and parks. 
Many of the fine remnants of former forest glory or of 
old-time planting which adorn the grounds of our wealthy 
citizens and of our more humble home makers go to pieces, 
gradually, unobserved, and unnecessarily, because of neglect 
