8 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
when the hurricane struck them. We salvaged every tree possible and, 
of course, we will not get a 100% salvage on all trees, but as most of the 
trees were of the better type, it was deemed advisable to try every 
available means to save them, especially in the park areas. The Com¬ 
missioner of Parks has made a request to the Board of Estimate for 
$275,000 to replace trees destroyed and for tree surgery for the damaged 
trees, caused by the storm. We realize that if work on the damaged 
trees is not pushed ahead, these trees with open wounds, broken branches 
and scarred tissue will be in a receptive state for insect and fungous 
attacks. 
I would like to place before this meeting the colossal responsibility the 
Park Department has in the planting and maintenance of park and 
street trees. With a force of only 247 men in the Forestry Division, a 
total of 2,181,421 trees are cared for; 1,200,671 of these trees are in the 
parks which comprise 18,830 acres and 980,750 street trees scattered 
over 5,521 miles of streets. To this total we added 67,773 trees this 
year which, based on average mortality of 50 years, means over 50% 
more than is needed for normal replacements. This means spraying, 
removal of dead and dangerous trees, pruning, planting, tree surgery 
and other activities in connection with the care of trees. Of course, we 
cannot begin to solve a problem which calls, for instance, for 150,000 
individual pruning jobs each year, with such inadequate forces, but by 
systematic geographical scheduling of our work, by doing entire blocks 
or sections in one operation rather than a hit-or-miss schedule, we have 
been able to raise the efficiency of the tree divisions. We hope in time to 
impress on the City’s budget authorities the need for a more adequate 
appropriation for Forestry. 
SHADE TREES AND THE FUTURE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. 
By Frederick Selden Eaton, City Forester , New Haven 
Mr. Chairman , and Members of the Eastern Shade Tree Conference: 
When I received your invitation to address this gathering, and found 
enclosed a copy of the tentative program, suggesting as my subject: 
“New Haven’s Shade Trees and the Future,” I felt quite relieved. 
Because, not so long ago, I was asked to talk to a group of Girl Scout 
Leaders. I had just been speaking to another group about trees (a talk 
on both dendrology and the hurricane). At the close of the meeting a 
young lady asked me if I wouldn’t come and talk to her group. Well, 
I got there at the appointed hour and was amazed at the introduction: 
