The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-11

in front of which they are set out. This becomes a lien. The money from thls source is reinvested in ,oth.- plantings. Only the actual cost of the tree. guard, stake and labor is so taxel The aver age assessment last year was s2.93. This covers once for all the entire cost. If the tree dies it is replaced under the guarantee without extra charge to the property.
 The commission is required to give pub lie Notice of Intention" to plant cer- tain streets or portions of st. eets through 'one or more of the newspapers of the municipality" After "a hearing to all persons who appear in relation to such contemplated Improvements, the streets to be planted are finally determined h. structions are then given to go ahead, and the seasons planting is begun.
 Planting pits are dug at distances of 90 feet. Where the sidewalk is cut pains are tc have the walk in good condition. From each pit 56 cubic feet is renewed and re- placed with good soil enriched with fer tillzer. When the new soil has settled the tree is set in place with wire guard topped with rubber collar and a stake 10 hold it steady until it has got it's own firm grip on Mother Earth. The trees for each street, are all of ore specimen and of equal size. With 10 clear days iu both spring and fall, the two planting seasons, and setting out 50 day, the ears output will be 4000 more trees ,o adorn 12 or more miles of streets and 10 begin the transforming of common place thoroughfares into park-like high ways overarched with >waving trees uni form in species and size.
 The bill shows the property owner that the cost assessed against him for the ex eavating, the subsoiling, the tree, the guard, the stake and the guarantee is less tran what he would have t3 pay a nur- sery for the tree alone. This saving to the property owner, made possible by the wholesale nature of the operations, will explain how the commission can adver- tise 30 miles of streets or 50 miles Of property fronts and not find one owner opposed.
 The shade tree statute docs rot becom, operative until the governing body' of a municipality authorizes the appoint ment of a commission. Over 30 cities and towns of New Jersey differing in pouula- ton from 3S7 900 to 1000, have elected to place their trees in the care of a com- riisison. In all these communities the problem of the care, increase and protec- tlon of street trees Is being studied by these local conservers of ttc city's tree assets. To appoint commission is to set in motion a legal mechanism toward ad- equate municipal control
 This Is the story of six years progress in New Jersey, the pioneer years of pre- paratory work. It is fair to expect cu- mulative progress in supervising street trees and preventing every form of de- structive agency during tho next five yeaIc. Through MT. J. Horace McFar- lands initiative, a similar statute is operative in Pennsylvania. Buffalo and Chicago and the country wide exchange list of the Newark commission demon strates how general is the interest in this method, now no longer an experiment. These sowings of tested seeds will surel. mature in more general adoption of the law All over the country communities arc gradually realizing that the tree is as much a friend to men in the city as in the country. From this conviction will follow the more general provision for their protection.