246 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



THE PRESERVATION OF WILD FLOWERS. 



By FRANCES ZIRNGIEBEL, 



KOXBURY, MASS. 



^T^HE fact that several of our delicate and most beautiful wild flowers 

 -*~ are fast disappearing from places where they were once found 

 has led to an effort to prevent the complete extermination of certain 

 species and the increasing scarcity of other plants. The plants so en- 

 dangered differ in different localities. The endeavor to protect par- 

 ticular ones has therefore local modifications, but the basis of the move- 

 ment, the desire to prevent wasteful destruction of plant life, is the 

 same in all sections of the country. 



A national society, known as 'The Wild Flower Preservation Society 

 of America,' has been organized, aiming to do for the native plants 

 what the Audubon Society has so well done for the birds. Its methods 

 of work are similar to those of the bird society. In its official organ, 

 The Plant World, has been published during the past year a series 

 of articles on the general subject of plant preservation with the addi- 

 tion of specific suggestions regarding the flowers about New York 

 city. Reprints of these articles may be obtained upon application to 

 the secretary of the society, C. L. Pollard, 1854 Fifth Street, Washing- 

 ton, D. C. A number of persons in New England who take keen 

 interest in wild flowers have united to form a 'Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Native Plants.' The object of this society is to try to do 

 something to check the wholesale destruction to which our native 

 plants are exposed. Brief appeals, to the general public, to children 

 and to nature study teachers have beeen issued and widely distributed 

 in the form of leaflets, which can be obtained of Miss Maria Carter, 

 Boston Society of Natural History. In the state of Connecticut laws 

 have been passed which protect the Hartford fern, and governing 

 boards of various metropolitan reservations of field and woodland have 

 made restrictions regarding the picking of their flora. 



The problem presented to the various organizations interested in 

 plant preservation is how depredations may be checked without 

 seriously restricting the freedom or enjoyment of the nature lover. 

 It is desired to set at work such factors as will arouse a healthy public 

 sentiment against indiscriminate and thoughtless flower picking. 



The work is much more difficult than that which was before the 

 Audubon Society, and the right public sentiment can not be created 

 in the same manner. Many of the strongest reasons given for bird 



