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EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
shade trees along our highways in the history of the State. Many 
valuable trees were blown over, branches were left dangling over our 
highways and a constant danger to the travelled way. Approximately 
40,000 trees have been damaged or weakened and had to be inspected, 
treated and made safe. Many trees were tipped and to save them, the 
work of straightening them and the placing of the proper tree guys had 
to be started at once. 
The arborists of the State played an important part in this work. 
The efforts of their skilled men working in the field have saved thousands 
of trees. These forces working on damaged shade trees will save a large 
number of trees which would otherwise be neglected. The knowledge of 
insects and diseases is important in order that the prevention of the 
spreading of these pests might be handled properly. The Department 
is supplying its men in the field with all the information that can be 
secured in order that some of these attacks on the life of the shade tree 
may be retarded or isolated in the area where they are first discovered. 
It is with the proper knowledge and experience of the field men in observ¬ 
ing such conditions that we can best meet the attack. 
The Joint Committee on Roadside Development is interested in your 
knowledge of species best used for planting along the highways, their 
location in regard to structures and the factors affecting the loss or sav¬ 
ing of roadside trees. Your research work on these factors may be used 
to great advantage by highway departments of New England as to the 
varieties of trees suited for roadside work and will help in the proper 
care of trees after they have been planted. The Joint Committee on 
Roadside Development recognizes your experience in this field of re¬ 
search and is only too willing to cooperate in this specialized field. 
THE SHADE TREE PROGRAM OF CONNECTICUT 
By John L. Wright, Director of Roadside Development , Connecticut State 
Highway Department 
“The show must go on, come what may,” is a tradition of the theatre. 
With us, in highway work, keeping the roads open to traffic at all times 
falls within the same category. Through floods, blizzards, and hurri¬ 
canes, one will always find the highway crews battling the elements 
with but one thought in mind—to keep the highways open and safe. 
The wind storm of September 21, following the weeks of torrential 
rains, caused far more widespread damage to the roadside trees of 
Connecticut than any storm on record. A conservative estimate places 
