Working With the Shade Tree Commission.

W

ITHOUT a doubt, one of the most potent and efficient methods of getting the average urban dweller interested in forestry principles and practices is to convert him into a shade tree enthusiast. By a proper system of educational training, hints, and suggestions, he will soon become inoculated with the virus of forestry and so an ardent advocate of the cause. Where it is not possible to carry the city man into the forest, it is possible to plant a tree in his yard or along the street in front of his home and cultivate his interest in its successful growing and care so that he will be but a few short steps away from a knowledge of trees in the aggregate and their relationships to our industrial and economic life.

Shade tree forestry then must take its place as one of the many methods of educational effort which are to be fostered and encouraged to bring about a more intimate knowledge of the care and protection of trees and their importance in the general life and actions of the people.

As a rule the condition of the average shade trees on the streets of the many cities, boroughs, and townships of Pennsylvania is deplorable and shows a complete disregard of the proper methods of handling and caring for trees. The trees have been planted without any regard to the proper species suitable for a certain condition, have been supposedly trimmed but really hacked into a semblance of their former majesty and beauty by the greatest enemy of the shade tree in existence today, the "tree butcher," and have suffered other untold but unmistakably plain evidences of ill treat

ment.

Despite these evidences of flagrant abuse, it is singular that more cities, boroughs, and townships in the State have not taken advantage of the many statutes which give them the necessary authority to proceed with the proper care and protection of their shade trees. The Act of May 31, 1907, approved by Edwin S. Stuart, then Governor of the State, provides for the planting and protection of shade trees and the appointment of a shade tree commission. After the acceptance of the provisions of this act by the duly constituted authorities, the necessary rules and regulations in accordance with local conditions can be drawn up and put into effect.

It is my wish to confine the paper from this point principally to the activities of the Shade Tree Commission of the City of Johnstown, a city of the third class, located in Cambria

county, and with whose functions I have been actively identified since its adoption of the provisions of the act of 1907.

Johnstown is one of the four third class cities in Pennsylvania to accept this act, which was done by proper ordinance early in April, 1916; and the ordinances, providing for the care and protection of the city's shade trees, were passed finally by city council April 18, 1916, to take effect on and after April 28, 1916.

Ordinances Governing the Commission. The most important thing to be done is to see that careful and appropriate ordinances and regulations are drawn up to give the necessary measure of protection to the shade trees; and all the records of existing shade tree commissions should be searched thoroughly for the best features incorporated therein. Without these necessary things with which to give power to the commission, it is a waste of time and effort to take steps to create such a body.

I feel safe in saying that the Johnstown regulations are the equal of those in any other city, because the commission and myself, as its consulting forester from the beginning of its activities, searched every record and ordinance in other cities, paying particular attention to those of Newark, N. J., and Boston, Mass.

Our ordinances are modeled primarily a ter those of Newark and in addition, contain other features peculiar to certain conditions which are merely local in character. They are rather drastic, but not more so than was indicated by the circumstances. Besides providing that written permits must be obtained for the removal, planting, or trimming of any tree in the public highway, and specifying penalties, these ordinances contain provisions which will care for almost any contingency which may arise. And it might be added that they state specifically that "it shall be unlawful," to do so and so and say nothing about what sort of evidence such acts shall constitute.

I should like to read these ordinances because of their value to other communities, which may be thinking of demanding a shade tree commission; but they are too lengthy for this paper, and I shall quote from only several of their more important provisions.

They provide for such injuries as may be caused by gas, hot water, steam, or other substance deleterious to tree life coming into contact with the soil around the trees, the penalty being $50 for each tree so killed or destroyed. They specify that there must be maintained about the base of the trunk of each shade tree

at least six square feet of open ground for a tree of three inches in diameter, and for every two inches of increase of such diameter, there must be an increase of at least one square foot of open ground. They provide against injuries. caused by any kind of electrically charged wire coming into contact with the branches of a tree. They require guards and stakes, and adequate protection from horses and animals; and proper care in the erection, or repairing of buildings in the city.

Requirement of Permits. Nothing will so impress upon the people the fact that there is some authorized body looking after the welfare and care of the shade trees as when they are asked by local officials whether they have a permit for such work as they are doing or are having done to their trees. Too often the people, especially property owners, have looked upon the shade tree which they have planted in front of their own property as something with which they could do as they pleased, and this old idea is hard to eradicate. Undoubtedly there are many cases where trees are trimmed without the knowledge of the local shade tree commission, but these infractions of the law become less frequent, if there is a summons to the magistrate to answer for the violation.

During the year 1918, the yearly report of the Johnstown commission shows that permits were issued for the trimming of 239 trees, killing of 9 trees, and planting of 17 trees, making a total of 85 permits for 265 trees.

As to the recognition of the supervisory work of the commission and its growth, the records for the past spring nearly surpass by half those of the whole year 1918. Permits were issued so far in 1919 as follows: Trimming, 259 trees; removing, 53 trees; and planting 78 trees; making a total of 390 trees.

Additional Rulings Required. It is not always possible or desirable to incorporate in the ordinances every phase of shade tree work which may arise, and in such cases additional rulings of the commission must be made and enforced. Probably one of the most difficult things to contend with and handle satisfactorily is the Carolina Poplar. I need not mention the many bad qualities of this tree for shade and street work, but we have had to remove such trees often where the roots had completely shut up a water or sewer pipe. This tree has been planted rather extensively in the mining and industrial towns of Western Pennsylvania and to order a wholesale removal of all these trees would have meant the practical destruction of all shade trees.

However, the commission ruled that it would not permit the planting of any more of these trees, and that it would not require a written permit for the killing or removal of such trees.

Another matter which requires attention is the height of the lower branches of shade trees above the sidewalks. An open grown tree will produce branches all along its trunk and unless systematic pruning is practiced, the lower branches will hang too low, thus preventing free passage to pedestrians, especially carrying umbrellas. To remedy this condition, the Johnstown commission has passed a resolution providing that all trees must be trimmed to a height of not less than ten feet above the sidewalk.

"The Tree Butcher." The greatest enemy of the shade tree anywhere is undoubtedly the man who takes a saw and an ax, and starts to cut and hack at the trees as though they were so much cordwood, and to be disposed of as quickly as possible. Probably there is no other calling or profession in which there are so many persons engaged, who believe that they really know their business, and yet do not actually know the rudiments of their work.

Where it is at all possible, I would urge that all communities take steps to have the duly constituted authorities make a sufficient appropriation for the employment of a competent forester and shade tree expert to see that the work of the commission is carried out correctly and to the letter. I am sorry to note that we have not reached that stage in Johnstown yet, but we hope that this will be realized shortly.

In the meantime, we have issued our permits for trimming and other tree work only after an investigation and report on the work to be done is submitted by me and the person who is to do such work has received my approval. In small communities it is possible to get one man who will be responsible, but in the larger places, this is out of the question. After seeing the work of those who claim they are expert tree repairmen, I submit a report to the commission and they approve the work of those who qualify according to these standards. When a permit is asked for and the work is to be done by one of the accredited men on the qualified list, the secretary of the commission issues the permit. Tree Planting. Before any intelligent plan of planting can be adopted, it is essential that a tree census of the community be taken. This should locate every existing shade tree, its size, species, general condition, treatment suggested, and other pertinent facts.

We have already taken such a census of several

of the streets of Johnstown and these records are a permanent part of the shade tree work. The census will be extended as rapidly as possible, so that the whole city will be covered.

Much educational work is necessary to bring the matter of the purposes of the commission before the people, especially with respect to planting. I recall that the proposed planting of one street in Johnstown was abandoned because of the opposition of the property owners who, of course, must pay for the cost of such work, according to the terms of the Act of 1907. In other cases, the property owners will petition for a systematic planting of their streets and the work of the commission will be greatly simplified.

In order to conduct an intensive educational effort the secretary of the commission and myself have been authorized to take a number of photographs of various shade tree conditions in the city and these will be made into stereopticon slides and an illustrated lecture given in all parts of the city. When the people realize that the commission is aiming to protect the shade trees and give them proper care and attention, they soon support the movement and render cooperation and assistance. Much of the opposition to such commissions has arisen from a misunderstanding of its purposes and objects, which are construed to mean an arbitrary and despotic control. Just as soon as the rulings of the commission become such, the whole success of the work is bound to be jeopardized.

As to the species of trees to be planted, much depends upon local conditions. In general, no mistake will be made in using Norway Maple, Oriental Plane, Red and Pin Oaks, Hard or Sugar Maple, and occasionally Horse Chestnut, White Ash, American Elm, and Catalpa. We do not encourage the planting of the Silver and Soft Maples, because the wood is brittle and the trees usually develop poor trunks.

We have some extreme conditions, near the railroads and steel mills, for instance, where apparently nothing will grow but Ailanthus and these trees must be used. Our theory is that it is a waste of time and money to plant species of trees under conditions where experience has shown that they will not thrive, consequently this mistake is to be avoided, so as to give as little cause as possible for criticism of the work of the commission. Obvious mistakes in judgment and professional advice will soon react to the detriment of the work anywhere.

Professional Supervision. Probably nothing

contributes to the success of the work of a shade tree commission so much as efficient professional supervision; and it should be the aim of our foresters so to equip themselves by a course of study and reading that they may be in a position to render this sort of assistance to communities in Pennsylvania. There are many pamphlets and circulars to be obtained from the various shade tree commissions and experiment stations and there are many excellent books published on the subject. With his broad knowledge of trees, supplemented by specific data as to the habits and behavior of trees under the adverse conditions of street planting, he will soon be equipped to render this service to the people.

The attitude of the members of the commission and those in authority in the various cities and boroughs is another factor in the success of this work. Fortunately, the Superintendent of Parks and Public Property of Johnstown, Mr. Charles H. Stroup, whose department has direction of the work of this commission, is keenly interested in his work and is giving active support and co-operation to the commission. Mr. Leo J. Buettner, the secretary of the commission, is also an interested and efficient worker in the interest of shade tree problems. Besides his position with this commission, he is also. Secretary to the City Planning Commission, the Park Board, and the Bureau of City Assessments, which duties give him an insight into the plans and purposes of these bodies, thus enabling him to coordinate all of their activities.

Shade tree forestry and the ability to render assistance along this line is an important factor in general forestry work and our foresters must be prepared to meet these problems whenever they arise. By so doing, they will be furthering the efforts of the Department of Forestry to be of service to the people and to inculcate love for trees, which will lead eventually to tree protection and to a clearer comprehension of the aims and purposes of forestry.

List of cities, boroughs and townships of the first class in Pennsylvania, now having Shade Tree Commissions:

T

District Forester, Johnstown, Pa.

When Trees Grow.

REES are among the commonest and most conspicuous objects of nature. Next to the grasses, which comprise about 3,000 species, trees are the most widely distributed and best known members of the vegetable kingdom. They are found in every land and occur in a great variety of situations. As vanguards of the forest they stand on the shores of the ocean battling with the mighty waves and the compelling winds. They beautify the banks of placid streams and protect their shores against raging torrents. They frame the home picture and give thereto an expression of homeliness and comfort. They furnish a protective cover to steep mountain slopes, which, through regulating the run-off of water resulting from heavy rains and melting snows, checks erosion and prevents destructive floods. Furthermore, they yield many of the most essential and indispensible commodities which man uses in times of peace and war. Trees and the products derived from them were powerful factors in the prosecution and winning of the recent war. And now, our common trees are being planted as memorials to those who made the supreme sacrifice."

This many-sided inter-relation between the human inhabitants of the earth and trees is not of recent origin but has existed since the creation of the world. Man has always been, is now, and ever will be a friend of trees. In spite of the long duration and the uninterrupted continuity of man's friendly attitude towards forest trees there yet exists an evident lack of real intimacy. It is a creditable accomplishment to be intimately acquainted with our common trees, that is, know their names and distinguishing

characteristics and be able to chart their kinship and discuss their family history, but I be lieve that real tree appreciation can be developed more readily, fully, and satisfactorily by studying their essential life relations and processes, that is, by acquainting ourselves with their numerous activities and behaviors while at work and at rest. Professor Liberty Hyde Bailey, for many years Dean of the College of Agriculture at Cornell University, and the writer of many authoritative books in the field of botany and horticulture, wrote that "the ideal plant teaching begins always with functions and essential life relations, even with young children."

Nothing about the numerous processes of trees is more readily comprehended than that they grow, for the results of growth are so obvious, and in some cases striking, particularly in temperate regions where annually a period of vegetative rest alternates with a period of activity. I propose to present for your consideration some interesting and essential facts pertaining to the growth-behavior of our common forest trees. Growth, however, is such a comprehensive subject, and some phases of it so technical that I have decided to limit myself to the question "When Trees Grow?"

The data which will be presented herewith were collected near Mont Alto, Pa., by myself and by several of my former students under my direction during the past four forest tree growing seasons. I wish to acknowledge helpful and suggestive assistance from Mr. Ralph Musser and Mr. Charles Z. Bates, two former students. The field work embraced the measuring of many trees at rather regular, usually weekly, intervals and the keeping of meteorological records, especially of temperature and rainfall. In order to obtain detailed field data over 200 trees were measured daily during the 1918 forest tree growing season, and in a number of cases specific groups of trees were measured both in the morning and evening.

The belief is prevalent that trees grow throughout the general growing or vegetative season, which embraces in Pennsylvania from 150 to 200 days, and extends from the last killing frost in the spring, that is, when the leaves of the larches, birches, cherries, and maples appear, to the first killing frost in the autumn when the leaves exhibit their autumnal coloration. This, however, is a mere supposition, for most of the native and introduced forest trees in the vicinity of Mont Alto make 90 per cent. of their height growth in less than forty days.

The following tabulation lists five representa