80 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
The Tree Laws of Connecticut. 
The recent formation of an association of tree 
wardens and park officials in Connecticut presages 
an active campaign for the welfare of the trees in 
that state, and makes the laws of that state con- 
cerning trees and their protection of particular sug- 
gestive value. 
Dr. Robert Taylor, of Greenwich, one of the 
newly elected tree-wardens, and a member of the 
association, in a recent letter to the “Greenwich 
News'" calls the attention of the people to the laws 
on the subject, and the importance of observing 
them. Dr. Taylor is anxious to have the legisla- 
ture pass an act requiring the labeling of trees in 
public places and expects to bring tbe matter be- 
fore the next session. He writes as follows on 
this point: “I venture to predict that included in 
the good works of the associations for village and 
town improvement of the future, a public work that 
has proven as successful as it has, because women 
are interested and active in it, will be the labeling 
of trees with neat signs. It is unlikely that an 
amendment of the laws to permit this would en- 
counter objection — spelling their common names in 
English, and also their technical names, as is done 
in botanical parks and gardens, for the education 
of the people.” 
The sections of the Connecticut statutes on 
“Arbor Day and Tree Planting” are as follows: 
§ 4438. Arbor and Bird Day. — The governor shall annually, 
in the spring, designate by official proclamation an arbor and 
bird day, to be observed in the schools, and in such other way 
as shall be indicated in such proclamation. 
§ 4439. Bounty for Planting Shade Trees. — Every person 
planting, protecting, and cultivating elm, maple, tulip, ash, bass- 
wood, oak, black walnut, hickory, apple, pear, or cherry trees, 
not more than sixty feet apart for three years, along any pub- 
lic highway, shall be entitled to receive an annual bounty 
thereafter from the state of ten cents for each tree ; but such 
bounty shall not be paid for more than five years, nor any 
longer than such trees are maintained. 
§ 4440. Trees on Highway Not to Be Cut. — Every person 
who shall cut down or injure any tree growing on the high- 
w'ay for which the state has paid a bounty or which has been 
set out by a village improvement society, without the written 
permission of a majority of the selectmen of the town in 
which such higlnvay is situated, shall be fined not more than 
twenty-five dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, 
,or both. 
§4441. Electric Companies Not to Injure Trees on High- 
way. — No telegraph, telephone, or electric light or pow'er 
company shall cause to be cut down or injured any tree grow- 
ing on the highway for the purpose of constructing or main- 
taining any electrical wires or fixtures of any kind, without 
the written consent of the adjoining proprietor. 
§ 4442. Penalty. — Every corporation violating any provi.«ion 
of §4441 shall forfeit fifty dollars for each offense; and the 
act ot the agent or employee of such corporation shall be 
the act of such corporation to work the forfeiture herein pro- 
vided. 
S 4443. Tree Wardens. — Every town may at its annual meet- 
ing elect a tree w'arden who shall serve for one year from 
the date of his election and until his successor is elected and 
qualified. Said tree warden may appoint such number of 
deputy tree wardens as he deems expedient, and may at any 
time remove them from office. He and his deputies shall 
receive such compensation for their services as the town may 
determine, and in default of such determination, as the select- 
men may prescribe. He shall have the care and control of 
all public shade trees in the town, except those in public parks 
or open places under the jurisdiction of park commissioners, 
and of these he shall take the care and control if so request- 
ed in writing by the park commissioners. He shall expend 
all funds appropriated for the setting out and maintenance of 
such trees. He may prescribe such regulations for the care 
and preservation of such trees, enforced by fines, not exceed- 
ing twenty dollars in any one case, as he may deem just and 
expedient ; and such regulations, when approved by the select- 
men and posted on the public signpost in the town, shall have 
the force and effect of town by-laws. He shall enforce all 
provisions of law for the preservation of such trees, provided. 
that such provisions do not conflict with any city or borough 
ordinance. 
§4444. Planting of Shade Trees. — Every town may ap- 
propriate annually a sum of money, not exceeding in the ag- 
gregate fifty cents for each of its ratable polls in the preceding 
year, to be expended by the tree warden in planting shade 
trees in the public ways ; provided, that the written consent 
of the owners of the adjoining land shall first be obtained. 
All transplanted trees, and all other trees not 'ess than six 
indies in circumference measured two feet from the ground. 
