MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF SHADE TREES 225 
mesh, while a third uses wrought iron of highly ornate 
design, and a fourth none at all. The result of these vary¬ 
ing tastes and opinions is an assortment of tree guards as 
picturesque and kaleidoscopic as the mixture of trees them¬ 
selves, or of possible treatment in trimming. 
In the matter of other care, difficulties also arise from 
leaving the responsibility on the individual property 
owner. Protection from insects is one of the serious prob¬ 
lems in tree care. Insect enemies are various and insid¬ 
ious. They do not advertise and they do not carry 
banners nor herald their attacks with blare of trumpets. 
They come quietly and by stealth, and frequently serious 
damage is done before the property owner knows that any¬ 
thing is wrong. That every man along a street should give 
adequate study and attention to insect pests and their hab¬ 
its is hardly to be expected; and even the man who does 
know something about the subject may suffer because of 
lack of knowledge or indifference on the part of his neigh¬ 
bor, or because he lacks facilities for proper protection. Few 
things could be more discouraging than for the man who 
conscientiously and painstakingly rids his own trees of 
insects to find that a fresh supply drops in on him from the 
tree of his next door neighbor. 
These problems are cited without intent to discourage 
the tree planter, but rather with the thought of pointing 
out some of the difficulties that are possible and showing 
how they may be avoided. The solution is to be found 
in the municipal or community control of all shade trees. 
In European cities, the control is almost invariably vested 
in the municipal government, and in the United States, 
those cities which have made the greatest progress in shade 
tree development have established shade tree control with 
highly satisfactory results. 
15 
