CITY FORESTRY AND SHADE TREES 165 
a knowledge of how each kind of tree grows naturally 
and an attempt to force a tree to assume an unnatural 
shape is a waste of effort. 
Tree surgery is perhaps the part of esthetic forestry 
with which the public is most familiar on account of 
the immense amount of advertising that has been done. 
To do good work, a knowledge of plant physiology, 
how the tree grows, what causes decay, etc., are neces- 
sary. Yet there are numerous firms doing work of this 
kind employing men none of whom, from the proprietor 
of the business down, knows anything at all about 
the fundamental principles of tree growth. In addition 
to carelessness a large amount of dishonest work has 
been done such as throwing in brick and loose stone 
into a large tree cavity, and coating the face with 
cement, making it appear like a solid mass of concrete. 
So many people have been deceived by the claims of 
such firms that in some of the States the college of 
forestry or State forester has sent out warnings against 
them. They not only collect large sums for work poorly 
done but the trees are left in worse shape than before. 
When it is realized that a city forester on assum- 
ing office may take charge of twenty-five to thirty 
thousand trees of all kinds and conditions, the amount 
of this kind of work that is thrust upon him is 
enormous. The cultivating and watering of the city 
trees during periods of drought must also receive his 
attention, for many progressive cities are watering their 
trees every week or ten days. In addition to the above 
the planting of shrubs in parks, the development of 
new playgrounds, may be added to his work so that 
his position is one of great activity and responsibility. 
In all his undertakings his success will depend on 
personality and enthusiasm as much as on technical 
