It shall be unlawful for any person to plant or set out any shade trees or cause or authorize any person to plant or set out any shade trees in or on any public highway within the city without first obtaining from the director of the park department a written permit to do so. It shall be unlawful for any individual or officer or employee of a corporation without the written permit of director of the park department to cut, prune, break, climb, injure or remove any living tree in a public highway, or cut, disturb or interfere in any way with the roots of any tree on a public highway or spray with any chemicals or insecticides any tree in a public highway; or place any rope, sign, poster or other fixture on a tree or guard in a public highway; or injure, misuse or remove any device placed to protect such tree on a public highway. (Code 1941, Art. 147-4)