Background
He was born on November 13, 1882, on a farm near Belchertown, Massachussets.
He was born on November 13, 1882, on a farm near Belchertown, Massachussets.
His early interest in trees led him to major in horticulture and natural science at Boston University and Massachusetts Agricultural College; he graduated from the latter institution in 1905 with a B. S. degree.
Shortly after graduation Bartlett moved to Virginia, where he taught agriculture and horticulture at Hampton Institute for two years. He also began the research in shade-tree care that led him, in 1907, to buy a farm in Stamford, Connecticut, and to begin a private practice of caring for shade trees. He built a laboratory on his farm and began developing tools, products, and practices used in this field. Bartlett soon founded the Bartlett Shade Tree Experts Company. Continuing his research in methods and materials as his company grew, he and his associates introduced the use of chemotherapy in fighting vascular disease in trees, produced a new filling for tree cavities, and experimented with feeding practices. The material devised as cavity filler supplanted cement, which was commonly used, but was too rigid.
The other innovation developed by the Bartlett organization in its early years involved the use of a strong steel cable, rather than chain, to support physically weak trees. Bartlett's Stamford farm supported many other experiments related to tree care: the life cycles and life patterns of numerous insects were tracked, nonnative and native plants were examined, and various diseases were investigated. Bartlett was instrumental in saving the chestnut tree from extinction in the United States. By 1916 the species had been nearly eradicated by the chestnut blight. The U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry at Chico, sent hybrid seedlings to twenty tree experts for testing; Bartlett's was the only sample to grow successfully, hence the name Bartlett chestnut. Seedlings from his trees were distributed throughout the United States.
At first Bartlett's company awarded fellowships for the study of trees at educational institutions around the country. Then, in 1923, he started the Bartlett School of Tree Surgery to train dendricians. A year later he gathered experts in entomology, pathology, physiology, and horticulture to form a research staff for the newly created Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories; the profits of the tree-care company supported the laboratories' efforts. That same year he initiated a meeting of tree specialists to found the National Shade Tree Conference, later renamed the International Shade Tree Conference.
While in Europe in 1927, Bartlett investigated a disease afflicting Dutch elms. He published his results upon returning to the United States, predicting the appearance of the blight on American elm stands. When the Dutch elm disease was noticed in the United States, Bartlett recommended ridding the elms of the elm bark beetle, carrier of the fungus responsible for the blight. His efforts at least slowed transmission of Dutch elm disease. Bartlett's tract on Dutch elm disease was one of his numerous efforts to educate the public about caring for shade trees. During 1929-1930 his organization sponsored, and subsequently published, a series of fifteen-minute radio broadcasts titled "Radio Tree Talks. " Each of these related to some aspect of shade-tree care. The introduction to one such text, published by the laboratories' public relations bureau, called the broadcasts an attempt "to stimulate interest in the improvement of shade tree growth through scientific methods. "
As urban areas grew, Bartlett expanded his company's activities to deal with the problems created in that environment. Tree ailments studied by Bartlett's staff included those caused by air pollution, drought, and the growing network of highways. The company developed methods for regulating woody plants along utility rights of way and was the first to use helicopters to spray herbicides, a practice that grew controversial with the increased concern over the dispersal of unknown quantities of pesticides to outlying areas. Bartlett retired as president of the shade-tree company in 1936 and was succeeded by his son, Robert A. Bartlett. He remained chairman of the board until his death in Stamford, Connecticut.
Bartlett married Myrtle Kezar; they had two children.