6 THE PLANT WORLD 



on our streets to-day are brought from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and 

 the South, regions from which they must also disappear. Being one of 

 the first spring flowers to raise its head above the woodland carpet of dead 

 leaves, it is especially welcome as a sign that snows and frosts are 

 past and as a promise of summer near at hand. It is very hard to resist 

 the temptation to gather it, as, " modest, .simple and sweet," it fills the 

 spring woods with beauty and fragrance. No wonder this flower is 

 sought after and the demand for it is so great ! Still, it is better to enjoy 

 the mayflower's charm less often than not to have it at all. And we shall 

 certainly lose our favorite if it continues to be picked so extensively for 

 the market. It is a slow-growing plant, thriving best in its wild state, 

 and under the most favorable conditions is not found in great abundance. 

 How then can it survive when the runners are carelessly torn up and 

 sent to the city, there to be shorn of blo.ssoms ? 



During the winter the evergreens, especially the holly, laurel and 

 ground pine, suffer injury. These plants are so largely used for decora- 

 tive purposes that enormous quantities are brought to the city every 

 year. At first thought it seems that Christmas would lose half its charm 

 if there were fewer Christmas decorations. But can anything which is 

 maintained at such a cost as is the supply of Christmas evergreens be 

 really charming to the thoughtful man or woman ? It probably will 

 mean in time the loss of more than one species if something is not done to 

 prevent this sale. 



In considering the necessity for preserving our native flowers,. shrubs, 

 and bushes, we are reminded of our trees and woods. Is there not a like 

 necessity and, in fact, a greater one for protecting our forests? The loss 

 from cutting and burning to which our tracts of woodland are every year 

 liable is no doubt well known to most persons. However, we can not be 

 reminded of it too often while there is yet time to repair the injury. 

 Trees in their relation to commerce, manufactures, climate and to man 

 himself have countless uses. Yet in clearing land for cultivation and in 

 supplying the yearly demand for timber, innumerable trees are sacrificed. 

 The hundreds of trees cut down annually to make railroad ties gives a 

 good idea of what the total destruction must be. What is there to take 

 the place of forests in tempering climate, assuring regular rainfall, and 

 therefore indirectly providing the sources of our great rivers ? 



In New York State the Adirondack forests in particular are being 

 destroyed to an alarming extent. The Forest Preserve Board in their 

 latest annual report call attention to this state of affairs. They cite not 

 only the timber-cutting, but also the introduction of two new industries — 

 the manufacture of barrel staves and ' ' wood alcohol ' ' — which require large 

 tracts of hardwood as well as softwood trees. These three industries may 

 be pursued to any extent in the enormous tracts belonging to companies. 



