94 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
was for the state-wide clean up from the highways of brush, logs, 
stumps, and debris, resulting from the storm of September 21st. This 
work has been going forward steadily for over two months. Although 
far from completed at the present time, excellent progress has been 
made in many sections. It is believed that the entire work can be 
consummated well within the allotted amount. 
No definite estimate of the number of trees still standing that warrant 
attention of tree crews has been attempted. In one small section com¬ 
prising Norwich and several adjacent towns, the foreman stated that in 
hastily covering the trees in his section he was unable to find a single tree 
that would not have to be climbed. This, doubtless, is an extreme con¬ 
dition; however, at every hand there is a tremendous amount of tree 
work that must be done. 
The tree crews of the Highway Department are at the present time 
concentrating all their efforts on repairing the damage done to those 
trees still standing which are deemed worth of conserving. In this work 
the W. P. A. Elm Tree Sanitation crews in many locations are rendering 
invaluable aid. Systematic pruning, bracing, bolting, guying, and 
fertilizing are being carried on as rapidly as possible, and it is planned to 
continue with this work—funds permitting—until existing conditions 
have been remedied. 
For the past four years the Connecticut State Highway Department, 
as its contribution toward the fight on the Dutch Elm disease, has car¬ 
ried on an elm tree spraying program in those portions of the State 
where the elms have been seriously infested with canker worms, and elm 
leaf beetles. It is hoped that this valuable service may be available 
this year as usual, although many of the stately elms, which were 
previously sprayed, are gone. 
The Connecticut Legislature passed laws in the 1927 Session placing 
the responsibility for the care of all state highway shade trees on the 
State Highway Commissioner, and authorizing him to plant trees and 
shrubs within highway bounds, as might be deemed feasible. Since that 
time the Department has carried on a carefully planned program of 
shade tree planting. Infinite care has been given to the selection of 
species and of planting locations. To date, thousands of trees have been 
planted along the roadsides, the majority of which, happily, were not 
seriously injured by the storm. Plans for the continuation of the shade 
tree planting program for this fall were completed when the storm broke. 
It seemed advisable to cancel these plans. It is believed that this was a 
very wise decision. 
