242 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



City who asked whether anything was being done relative to re- 

 searching the availability of plant materials in short supply : 



There is in the Northeast an organization known as the Landscape 

 Materials Information Service, composed of a nonprofit group of 

 landscape architects, landscape contractors, public agencies, and 

 nurserymen. 



This organization publishes an inventory report from the leading 

 nurseries of the Northeast twice a year. 



They also compile an aggregate report from the principal public 

 agencies of their plant requirements for a year ahead. 



This organization has a membership of about 250 from New 

 England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Del- 

 aware, and Ohio. 



STANLEY A. MURRAY. I would like to add to Senator Nelson's 

 remarks concerning trails in relation to natural beauty. Trails offer 

 a most intimate means for the observance and appreciation of natural 

 beauty, and a well-developed and maintained trail system provides 

 justification for the preservation of specific areas in a forested or other- 

 wise natural state. 



The 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, with its numerous side trails, 

 is probably the best-known example of a truly extensive trail system. 

 It represents a model of cooperation between private individuals and 

 groups and Federal and State agencies. For over 40 years this primi- 

 tive foot trail has been kept cleared, marked, and open to the public 

 by the coordinated efforts of thousands of volunteers. The U.S. 

 Forest Service, National Park Service, numerous State parks and one 

 chamber of commerce have cooperated in the upkeep and preserva- 

 tion of designated sections. 



An estimated 50 million people live within a 3-hour drive of 

 the Appalachian Trail, and half the population of the United States 

 lives within a day's journey. It provides an outdoor recreation expe- 

 rience of the highest quality for many thousands annually. Its use 

 is expected to grow manifold as more people seek the solitude and 

 restful atmosphere of remote areas. It will undoubtedly be necessary 

 to construct and maintain parallel and cross trails in the heavily used 

 areas. 



The need for a protected area of sufficient width to protect ade- 

 quately the natural character of the trail is apparent. Such an area 

 is termed the Appalachian Trailway and is defined more precisely in 

 U.S. Senate Bill 622, introduced by Senator Nelson and cosponsored 



