The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-18
TREES IN BAD SHAPE
Matter Is Important and People Are
Waking Up.


A few days ago a tree expert, Prof.
M. b. Cummings OF the State Expert
ment Station at Burlington, was In
town to inspect the street and fruit
trees. Prof Cummings came at the
request of several prominent men of
this place, and IA company with them
gave very thorough inspection of
trees about town. After a careful sur
yey of the whole situation. the inspec.
tor said that while many trees were
In bad shape and needed considerable
attention, no one needed get greatly
alarmed.
AT the request OF several interested
persons, an evening meeting was held
in the Y. NJ. c. 4. building to consid-
er ways and mearc OF preserving the
useful and beautiful trees about town.
During the evening the professor re-
viewed the whole situation, and en-
phasized the Importance of prompt
action.
In the course Of his remarks Mr..
Cummings said that there were two
problems here relative to trees.
Street Trees.
First there are the street trees
which need immediate attention If
they are to be preserved. In particu
lar he said that the elms, naples, and
locusts are suffering because of alb
sent treatment. Many of the trees
are set too close together, condition
which is certain to be injurious some
time to all trees. And that time has
now arrived in Bennington. Again,
the lack Of pruning. or the failure to
take out dead branches as they occur
has enabled the rot producing organ
ism to spread to healthy branches
and distribute the destructive work
to many branches and many trees.
The remedy consists Of pruning out
all dead, diseased or crowded branch
es. This is the only panacea, and
must be adopted soon or wholesale
destruction of useful and beautiful
trees will be effected. If anywhere
true. the adage well applies here
"A stitch in time saves nine" DO not
wait. Procrastination viii rob the
town of its trees. The street tree
problem is one which requires com
munity action Hearty cooperation
of all public spirited persons is i'm
perative. No man alone can save the
trees; all must share in this cogent
work
The Fruit Trees.
The second tree problem is that of
caring for the fruit trees in gardens
and orchards about town. Here again
Indifference and neglect is the cause
of all the trouble OF the trees. The
expert said that the old apple trees
are breeders of disease and insects,
and if uncared for there would soon
be tree desert The fruit trees
need pruning and spraying. 1t is
improper and unjust as well as I'M
wise to all there to allow old trees
to harbor pests. Insect pests and
| fungus disease are public nuisances,
and should be kept in check.
What to Do.
In general the advice given was to
the effect that some tree surgeon be
engaged to come and look after the
trees. Persons who own diseased
trees should be willing, even anxious
to meet all reasonable and necessary
expenses. A very fair way of meet
ing the necessary expense, is that Of
charging the work up prorata to each
individual concerned. The professor
said he could recommend some prac
teal men of experience.
All Must Share in Work.
In his talk the other evening the
professor said as he noted in his in
speetion about town "some will dc
the work all right, but few will hole
back. In every community there are
a few people who beg to differ, and al
though they see the need of better
care, they lack faith in remedia
measures" Fortunately the indiffer
ent ones are few in number, or the!
would counteract all agencies for bet
terment 1t is earnestly hoped tina
all good citizens will lend a helping
hand in the important work of pre-
serving the trees of this town.