Dismay at the drastic pruning of trees in certain parts of Shanghai is understandable. 'Criticism thas burst forth all the more fiercely because Just' now the signs of Spring are evident and so pleased expectation of resgrecting the foliage of the summer season seems doomed to disappoint ment. It is a question of changed conditions which require changed methods. In the country or on wide roads the light pruning in which the Settlement indulged twice yearly is highly appropriate. It does not ft with the rapid urbanization of the last ten years in which the growth of houses hasbeen matched by marked increase in the Impedimenta of the streets,. Railless trams, double-decked omnibuses, a veritable network of telephone and Power wires, added to the compara live narrowness of the highways have impelled the authorities to poll more vigorously than heretofore in order to keep well-balanced trees, minister to the exigencies of road-widening schemes which demand transplanting, repair damage done by typhoons and road accidents, and the like. Requests for the removal of tree branches are constantly being made by shipowners who fear loss of business owing to the obscuring of their signs by too expansive branches. Pollarding ig also necessitated by arboreal "disease. A review of the situation led the authorities to the conclusion that Shanghai's trees were not attractive—they were neither one thing nor the other—and, to use the language of diplomacy a "positive" policy was demanded." The European system of pruning trees was thereupon adopted to be gradually applied. In Pahsienjao Cemetery pollarding eight years ago has now yielded satisfactory results. Avenue Rd. came under the same pressure in 1931, Its trees have recovered from the operation and not only are attractive but also resist the typhoon more firmly than in their former condition. In the Bubbling Well Cemetery signs of disease in the plane trees prompted similar pollard Ing in 1931, but since that time the Parks Department has not been responsible for any pruning in the Cemeteries. Gordon Ra. and Hungjao Re. are among thoroughfares which have already received this "beauty treatment" and are showing the benefits expected from It. During the transition from the old light
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.