190 THE PI.ANT \VORI.D 



The Wild Flower Preservation Society 



of America. 



The following letter, recently received from one of our members in 

 Ohio, contains an excellent suggestion, and one that is worthy of adop- 

 tion at many similar resorts. The Secretary has written to the General 

 Manager of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad calling attention to the 

 fact that the wild native vegetation enhances the beauty of every region , 

 and requesting permission to post notices to the public at conspicuous 

 points along the line. 



"Cincinnati, Ohio, August i, 1903. 

 "Mr. C. L. Pollard, Secretary Wild Flower Preservation Society. 



" Dear Sir: The Cumberland mountain spur that is crowned with 

 the Natural Bridge, this gloriously beautiful and interesting wonder of 

 Nature, is annually visited by large numbers of excursionists. These 

 persons should be taught to look upon the ferns, the orchids, the trees 

 that fringe the mountain paths and clothe the great rocks, as treasures, 

 to be held in trust for future generations, and not to be uprooted and 

 thus exterminated. 



May I suggest that an appeal to excursionists be sent and posted in 

 a conspicuous place ? I think the railroad company would gladly co- 

 operate with our Society in order to preserve the natural beauty of this 

 mountain region and give it added value in time to come. 



' ' Yours truly , Louise Drude . ' ' 



The idea of placing posters where they will be widely observed and 

 read has been carried out by the Society for the Protection of Native 

 Plants in Boston. The poster issued by them reads as follows : 



"PROTECT THE NATIVE PLANTS. 



" Many attractive flowering plants, ferns, etc., in the neighborhood 

 of towns and summer resorts, are in serious danger of local extermina- 

 tion or reduction to relative rarity. This condition already exists in 

 many places, and is much to be deplored, as it takes away one of the 

 great charms of wood and field. 



How may this danger be averted ? Pick only a few flowers instead 

 of a large quantity, thus giving an opportunity for seeds to develop and 

 perpetuate the species. A few flowers skilfully arranged are much more 

 attractive and decorative than masses bunched together . In picking flowers 

 do not pull up the roots of plants. Avoid purchasing wild flowers in the 

 streets and elsewhere, thus checking the incentive to collecting for sale, 

 which in some cases has assumed very large proportions. * * * " 



The remainder of the poster is occupied with a statement of the 

 Society's ofl&cers and organization. 



