THE PLANT WORLD 103 



retains its moisture and is not subject to any considerable degree to forest 

 fires. Contrast tliis with the state of affairs in the southern Adironack 

 region, Avhere the insatiate pulp mill has taken everything worthy the 

 name of tree, and where destructive forest fires biirn up, not only the 

 surface vegetation, but the very soil itself, as it is in many places so rich 

 in vegetable matter as to be combustible to a considerable extent. The 

 man who shall invent a cheap and satisfactory substitute for wood pulp 

 for paper will do more for forests and flowers than all the legislatures in 

 the country could accomplish in a century. 



The problem of preserving wild plant life in the vicinity of large 

 cities and towns stands distinctly by itself. Except in a few cases, as 

 outlined above, it is not a problem to be reached by law, but by enlight- 

 ened public opinion. The police regulations may in a measure protect 

 the park areas but in the larger and wilder parks police protection to be 

 adequate would be burdensome beyond endurance, both to the taxpayer 

 and the lover of nature. I, for one, can never enjoy nature while under 

 the surveillance of a blue-coat. He is a rank and jarring discord in 

 what otherwise might be a soul-stirring \dsual symphony, 



A great proportion of evil is wrought through ignorance and 

 thoughtlessness which can be reached through the usual channels of 

 popular education, the lecture, the newspaper, and the school. 



There is a right way and a wrong way to pick flowers. Many kinds 

 if properly gathered can be picked continuously throughout the period 

 of bloom without materially injuring the plants. Others must be picked 

 sparingly, and some not at all. 



If rules something like the following were iterated and reiterated 

 in the public prints, with fairly complete lists of the local plants in each 

 of the classes mentioned (for the composition of these lists would vary 

 greatly in different localities), I believe it might do much to save our 

 native wild flowers from needless and thoughtless destruction. And we 

 of the city might still enjoy our bouquet of wild flowers with a clear 

 conscience. 



Flowers of any kind should not be gathered near walks or drives. 

 They give the most pleasure to the most people in their natural situation, 

 and they are most exposed to injury from thoughtless people and 

 vandals. 



As little as possible of leaf or leaf-bearing shoot should be gathered 

 with the flowers, and underground stems or roots should never be dis- 

 turbed. The violation of this rule is responsible for much of the damage 

 done the trailing arbutus. 



Rare or unusual flowers found near a city should not be gathered 

 except for strictly scientific purposes. This, of course, does not apply 

 to plants which are plainly weeds or introduced plants. 



