66 
scientific interest attached to the geological formations and to the flora and 
avifauna. While it was always intended that they should be open ‘to the 
public, the making of picnic grounds out of the most sacred portions was 
never contemplated. There are thousands of better sites for picnic grounds 
in this region than these two, and if the construction of paths or roadways 
must be undertaken on such small park areas, those responsible might have 
secured by a mere letter to the former custodians of these properties (The 
State Museum), complete information regarding the location of the rare 
plants thereon, and reasons for shunting public recreation activities to other 
portions of the parks. Failure of the authorities in charge to even know 
about the chief reasons for these two park areas having been given to the 
fai Museum, seems to be the chief trouble. 
‘The destruction of the Hart's Tongue fern station east of Jamesville, on 
the holdings of the Solvay Company, known as Green Pond (east) is 
greatly to be regretted, but could not be helped. Fortunately those inter- 
ested in a preservation of the fern moved over 400 plants to the Clark 
(State) Reservation and elsewhere, eclevae that there they would be safe. 
Apparently they are not safe there. Under date of December 15, 1928, 
fiss M. L. Overacker of Syracuse writes as follows: 
Meactor Todd, who has done most of the work of removing and who 
keeps an eye on them when possible, reports that fully three-quarters have 
been removed or destroyed in their new refuge. 
“ The passing of the Clark Reservation and the Chittenango Falls Park 
from the Museum into the hands of the Park Board I regard as the worst 
calamity that has befallen the hopes of preserving the last of the Hart’s 
Tongue fern in this country. The construction of the a down the cliff 
at Chittenango Falls is the finishing touch. 
observed personally during the latter part of 1926 the construction 
of this path. In one day I saw at least a dozen buried in the debris of the 
angle of this path. I also saw people remove and carry away plants of 
the Hart’s Tongue fern. I should be more exact and say that it was also 
Hart’s Tongue ferns I saw destroyed by the construction of the path. 
“ There is an implied question in the title of your article: ‘ How shall we 
save rare plant species from extinction?’ You really haven’t answered the 
question, and I do not know by whom nor how it will ever be answered, 
but you ae have indicated how they cannot be saved. arks and 
recreatio rounds are certainly a wonderful thing, and the development 
of this idea in recent years ie been remarkable, but as far as the preserva- 
tion of rare and harmless forms of wild life is concerned, they cer tainly 
have made a poor start in us State. 
“ Sincerely yours, 
(Signed) ‘“ Homer D. House.” 
—_— 
