70 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



uprooting them. Anotlier group, which inchides the trilliums, 

 the mandrake, Indian turnip, and numerous orchids and lilies, 

 consists of plants whose leaves are almost invariably gathered 

 with the flowers. Since the leaves of one year form the ma- 

 terial from which next year's blossoms come, to collect the 

 leaves witli the flowers is about as certain to exterminate them 

 as is rooting them up. 



Slow growing species like the arbutus flowering dog- 

 wood and laurel are other plants that cannot stand an annual 

 shearing. Other plants, in which the leaves rather than the 

 flowers is the chief attraction are especially in danger since 

 they may be in demand at all seasons and not merely when in 

 blossom. This is particularly true of the evergreen species. 

 The demand for Christmas greens has practically eradicated 

 the ground pine from large areas while the laurel, galax. 

 holly and smilax are being rapidly reduced in numbers by the 

 same demand. The small Christmas tree has now^ almost 

 reached the dignity of a farm crop, since certain areas are 

 being set aside for its production and there seems to be no 

 good reason why others in its class should not be cultivated. 



One of tlie greatest obstacles to the working up of a 

 proper sentiment for plant protection is the idea held by the 

 great majority that flowers are in some w^ay a product of the 

 earth, growing from it somewhat like wool grows on a sheep. 

 They fail to see the harm of the annual gathering, assuming 

 that a new crop will appear with the new year. That plants 

 get their food from the soil is a time-honored but entirely 

 misleading statement. The bulk of the plant really comes 

 from the air and is made into food in the leaves. To remove 

 the leaves, therefore, is to reduce next season's crop. Were 

 this thoroughly understood, there would likely be less flower- 

 gathering by everybody. 



