40 



With the thinning ol' the trees ap23eare<l an undergrowth. Where the under- 

 growth came, and where the second growth appeared in neglected clearings, the 

 vegetation was often different from that of the original forest. This, too, was 

 destined to go the way of passing things. 



The Ginseng {Panar quinquefolium L. ). Spikenard [Aralia racemosa L. ), 

 Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.), and Yellowroot {Hydrastis canadensis L.), 

 and many ferns are following the woody plants to extermination. 



Milksickne«s, once so prevalent among the early settlers, with the peculiar 

 fevers of the new country, are of the past. Staggers has disappeared from many 

 places, yet the Wild Larkspur (Deiphinium tricorne Michaux), which, tradition- 

 ally, is its cause, has become more abundant in some congenial localities, and in 

 such neighborhoods the disease is quite serious. 



But there are other results of the introduction of civilization which have 

 made themselves felt. The streams were dammed and the migratorj^ fishes pre- 

 vented from ascending them. The driftwood disappeared from the streams. In 

 time the dams, too, were gone. The deep holes, where the fishes loved to hide, 

 filled up. The streams carried less water through the summer. Dynamiting, 

 netting, and other illegal means of fishing became prevalent. All these have 

 combined to wage a war of extermination against the inhabitants of our streams 

 and lakes which might, if properly protected, prove an exceedingly valuable 

 factor alike in the enjoyment and in the food supply of our people. 



The telegraph wire is very destructive to birds. Birds and insects have found 

 a new instrument of destruction in the electric light. Railroad tracks have 

 proved very deadly to many living things besides man. They, in turn, are high- 

 ways along which the cars introduce new forms of plants and animals. The self- 

 binder and the mower play havoc with the lives of many inhabitants of the 

 meadows and grain fields. 



Following in the civilizer's footsteps have come other changes. Man has not 

 only made the wilderness to blossom as the rose and gathered fruits and grain 

 from all lands for the necessity and enjoyment of our people, but with the grain 

 has been sown tares and with the fruit has been planted blight. Teasles {Dipsacus 

 sylvestris Hud.), Canada Thistles (Cnicus arvensis Hoffm.), Wiregrass, Platains 

 and Prickly Lettuce [Lacluca scariola L. ) are contending for the soil. Pear 

 blight, smuts, rusts and Black-knot affect fruits and flowers. Chinchbugs (.B&siis 

 hucoptervs Say), Hessian Flies (Cecidomyia destructor Say), Colorado Potato 

 Beetles {Doryphora decem-lineafa Say), Clover-root Borers {Hylesinus trifolii Mull.),, 

 Scale Insects and Cabbage \\'orms dispute with the farmer his right to the crops 

 he has planted. 



