January 27, 1909 109 
THE PASSING OF THE PRAIRIE PLANTS IN THE 
GRAIN-PRODUCING MIDDLE WEST 
By J. LUNELL 
Civilization is, generally speaking, deleterious to the wild 
plants. Still, in most of the states there is, and always will be, 
an abundance of land left to them, where they can enjoy life, 
unmolested through generations. In these states there is no 
reasonable foundation for the fear of some plants becoming ex- 
tinct. 
Conditions are greatly different in some of the prairie states. 
It is not far from the truth to say that within them no land is 
left intact. In the sloughs the grass is cut for hay, and after 
wards the cattle are turned out to exploit what is left, and as a 
rule afraction of the farm is reserved for pasture. If it is true 
that some kinds of plants only thrive if they get abused in every 
possible way by cattle, still the majority of plants will not thrive 
but disappear from the prairie pasture, and even many of the 
native species of grasses are exterminated. 
Nevertheless, the possible extinction of plant life in the 
slough and in the pasture does not necessarily lead to the ex- 
tinction of the species growing there. But in most prairie states 
nearly all of the land is used for the production of crops. This 
means a total destruction of the original vegetation and the sub- 
stitution of one totally different. It means a complete change 
in the geographical distribution of the plants. Man needs to 
use the soil for the ultimate purpose of producing bread, and 
the plow is constantly busy overturning the virgin soil. The 
wild plants are buried in the ground, and after this harsh process 
you will never see them again. Of many species of plants which 
you collect to-day, you will be unable to find representatives to- 
motrow. In many townships the only ground untouched is the 
section line that the law reserves for roads. The part of it that 
is not needed for the road is the only refuge left for the wild 
flowers. It is easy to imagine what a change in the flora will 
