CHAPTER XII. 
LABELLING SHADE TREES 
HE close observer often wonders why so little atten- 
l tion has been paid to labelling the shade trees of our 
towns and cities. 
Somebody has said that the effect of reading a label 
on a tree previously unidentified is like an introduction to 
a stranger, in that it creates an interest otherwise lacking. 
Where the trees are labelled, the observer will find 
visitors stopping to study the markings and showing gen¬ 
uine interest in the information. Where there are no 
labels he will note people vainly trying to establish the 
identity of the trees. 
The newly developed interest in shade trees, through¬ 
out the country, carries with it an aroused demand for 
definite information as to species. For a community 
to make liberal expenditures for tree planting and then 
stop short of labels is a mistake in policy. The cost of 
planting is expressed in dollars; the added expense for 
labels is a matter of cents. Since the success of the move¬ 
ment for shade tree development is largely a question of 
education, it is obvious that the more we do to make trees 
popular the greater will be the public interest in their 
planting and protection. Labels will play an important 
and necessary part in this educational work, and may 
therefore be counted as having a vital influence for the 
beautification of the community. 
Until quite recently practically none of the cities of 
America have undertaken to label the trees in adequate 
fashion. In some communities one finds an occasional 
label, but too often even this has become illegible and 
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