1 HE AMERICAN BOTANIST 09 



protection and the question now uppermost is how to go about 

 protecting them. 



The sentimentahst, taking a leaf from the bird-lover's 

 note-book, would protect the plants with general laws like 

 those which have been so successful in protecting the birds. 

 In this he has overlooked the fact that the birds can always 

 move out of harm's way if given a chance and thus may well 

 be regarded as the property of the public, but the wildflowers 

 being rooted in the soil, survive only so long as the particu- 

 lar area they inhabit is not wanted for something else. 



Tiiere is no reason; however, why the showy flowers 

 should not be protected in areas not under cultivation. At 

 present in many parts of our country, about the only recourse 

 of the land owner interested in preserving his plants is to 

 bring suit for trespass with strong prospects of being unable 

 to prove material damage and the consequent loss of his suit. 

 Laws which place the taking of flowering plants from lands 

 properly posted in tlie same category as the theft of any other 

 material would do much to prevent the inroads which all 

 wooded areas and other unused lands must sustain annually. 

 As to the plants in lands uncared for by their owners, who 

 can make laws for them? Laws of this nature usually stop 

 at the property lines. If the owner chooses he may collect 

 and sell the plants, allow others to do so, or even uproot them 

 entirely. 



Fortunately for the wildflowers as well as for ourselves, 

 only a comparatively small number are so situated that they 

 cannot maintain their numbers under moderate gathering. 

 Among this number however, are several of our showiest 

 species including the cardinal flower, the fringed gentian, 

 spring beauty, Dutchman's breeches and many phloxes. These 

 are so lightly fixed in the soil that there is always danger in 



