TREE BUTCHERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 9

TREE BUTCHERY

AN AMERICAN VIEW. In an article to the effect that tree butchery is on the wane an American publication with wide circulation states the position as follows: “Here is a practical modern problem. We need the beauty and shade of the trees on city streets and along the highways. The public has a right to the trees, because the public own ’hem. On the other hand, we must have the wire companies and the indispensable service they render. These companies require a certain amount of neessary clearance of interfering branches in order to give the public good and uninterrupted service. Conscientious wire company officials have discovered that these apparently antagonistic problems can be reconciled. They really did not want to destroy the trees or to defy public opinion, and they' sought earnestly to find a way out. As a result of a consultation between the interests affected it has been found that the required clearance can he had without resorting to tree butchery —and tree butchery is always unnecessary and inexcusable. As a rule the required clearance can be secured without cutting more than 10 per cent, to 25 per cent, as much as formerly. The cutting is confined as much as possible to small branches. The cutting is done by experts, who make the cuts properly and treat the wounds. No climbing spurs are used to injure the tree irretrievably. Very often expert methods save important branches that would otherwise be cut. Trees with structural weaknesses are braced mechanically to protect both the trees and the wires. Almost without exception the public is willing to permit this necessary cutting when it is done by experts, who do it properly and keep the cutting to the lowest minimum. Consequently public relations have been tremendously improved for the wire companies.