MC MANMON: TREE PROBLEMS OF MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS 
91 
and feel we have come within some degree of properly landscaping the 
highway from an aesthetic as well as economical standpoint. When 
these principles are applied we find that we have a simple treatment and 
one most desired where landscaping is done on a mileage basis. 
The use of trees around structures and in the screening of unsightly 
areas is important to the highway. Placing them around structures 
reduces the artificial glare of new construction and makes it merge with 
the surrounding landscape. Their use in traffic circles to guide traffic 
and reduce the glare of oncoming headlights is an important factor in 
safer highways. 
Trees are placed along the side of the highway today in groups to 
bring out foliage effects and to duplicate the work of nature. The tree 
in highway planting can be used as an accented point in the design or to 
create a vista. In the use of native trees, the resistance against attacks 
from insect and disease is created because we are using a variety of trees 
that will not all be subject to the same attack. ‘ 
The divided highway is the safest road on which to travel today. 
Here the trees can be placed well back of the hardened surface to give a 
much safer feeling and confidence to the motorist because his vision is 
not hampered by overhanging branches and low growing tree tops. 
We might state here that “the tree is the unconscious guide to the 
motorist for safer driving by its proper location in the landscape design/’ 
The discussion of trees and their place in roadside development cannot 
be considered complete unless we touch upon the subject of the care of 
trees. After the trees are properly placed we must provide for their 
existence and protection against insects and diseases. This is being 
given consideration by the establishment of a permanent force of men 
experienced in the care and treatment of shade trees. 
The program of work to be done by this force is as follows: to prune 
and remove dead limbs from the trees in order that the safety of the 
motorist might be assured; to keep the foliage from shielding traffic 
markers and direction signs. The feeding of the tree is considered and 
each year several hundred trees are provided with the proper plant food. 
The problem of controlling insects and diseases was too great for our 
own forces to handle effectively due to the large number of miles in¬ 
volved. This work was surveyed and the forces of one of the leading 
arborists of the State were sent into the field to spray 500 miles of shade 
trees along the highways. 
The recent hurricane of last September caused the greatest damage to 
