disastrous results. Among these so-called experts to my personal knowl- 
edge some are barbers, barkeepers and the like, who have seen an 
opportunity to prey upon the public by passing as tree experts. These 
men scrape, prune and spray, cut great unnecessary cavities which they 
fill with unnecessary cement. Their chief function is not to preserve 
the trees, of which they have little or no knowledge, but to run up as 
large bills as the public will stand. 
What, then, are our cities and villages going to do to conserve 
their trees? There is but one safe course to pursue. Employ an ex- 
perienced arborculturist as a city or village official. Make him re- 
sponsible for the management of the street trees and, if necessary, the 
park trees. Let him be the expert whose business it is to consult with 
you and every citizen regarding the kinds, care and management of all 
city trees. 
The cities and villages of the East, in rapidly increasing numbers, 
are employing such men. Indeed, the trees of no community are safe 
until one man of broad training and experience is responsible for their 
care and protection. Under our present system, or lack of system, with 
each property owner planting and caring for the trees along the streets 
facing his own property, the street trees are a medley of species, some 
too closely, some too widely spaced, some well cared for, others broken 
and scarred with the foliage destroyed by insects. The wrong species 
are often planted, and dead or dying specimens left standing long after 
they should be removed. All of these defects are automatically reme- 
died when a well-considered and orderly plan has been developed by 
city planning and its execution is in charge of a responsible, trained and 
experienced man. 
The employment of a city or village arborculturist means economy 
and better trees. The first duty of the arborculturist is to make a com- 
plete inventory of all the trees along every street and avenue. The con- 
dition of the tree should be recorded and plans made for additional 
plantings. Records should be kept of all trees to be removed or re- 
paired. Plans for protection from insects and fungi should be per- 
fected before the necessity arises. Regulations should be made regard- 
ing pavements. Attention should be given to the laying of water and 
gas pipes that as little damage as possible be done the roots. Oversight 
should be given to the stringing of trolley and other overhead wires that 
the crowns are not unnecessarily mutilated and made unsightly. 
What city and village trees require more than all else is constant 
and adequate oversight by an efficient, faithful, public servant. I see 
no other way in city and village development by which the trees can 
be made a fitting background for architectural structures and give the 
citizens a just pride in their community. 
J. W. TOUMEY, 
Director of the Yale Forest School. 
