152 THE PI.ANT WORLD 



The Wild Flower Preservation Society 



of America. 



The following note from Professor Beal shows that good work for the 

 cause is being carried on at the Michigan Agricultural College : 



About forty years ago a large portion of Ingham County in central 

 Michigan, where the capital is situated, was in its primitive condition, 

 covered by trees, shrubs and smaller wild plants. The Agricultural Col- 

 lege in this county owns a farm of 676 acres. Among the students are 

 many who admire flowers and most study them. One after another, and 

 in twos, threes and half dozens, the species of plants are hunted down 

 and dug up. Extensive marshes and swamps hav^e been drained and 

 burned over ; forests have been removed and the land planted to farm 

 crops. At the college and vicinity plant fiends are found among the 

 students, and especially among the children of the neighborhood. People 

 from the cities and villages drive to the woods and by-ways, carrying 

 home not only the flowers and foliage, but large quantities of roots as 

 well. 



To do the best we can, most of the interesting wild plants in this 

 county are doomed, sooner or later, to extinction. The brightest side of 

 this picture is to be found in the botanic gardens or school gardens, 

 where all hands strive to plant and help care for many species in variety. 



At the college named, we have posted notices and have inserted notes 

 of warning in the college paper, possibly to some effect. W. J. Beal. 



Agricultural College, Mich. 



THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATIVE PLANTS.* 



(a plea to teachers.) 

 By Jean Broadhurst. 



Again comes the cry, "Protect our native plants." The strongest 

 economic and aesthetic reasons have been often and convincingly pre- 

 sented, but the need for protection continues. The people who destroy 

 have not been reached. Why, can best be shown, in considering briefly 

 the classes most destructive to our native vegetation. 



Few people are willing to make money slowly enough to respect the 

 rights of others now, or those of the next generation. Plants of direct 

 or indirect economic value will need protection as long as there is com- 



* Awarded the second prize of fifteen dollars, competition of 1904, from the Caroline and Olivia 

 Phelps-Stokes Fund for the Preservation of Native Plants. Reprinted from the/o/ona/o/M^ A'i'zf 

 Vork Botanical Garden. 



