222 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



welfare of all mankind, not only for this generation, but also for the future 

 generations. 



Unless our schools and colleges are making men and women of vision 

 and service, our country will go to ruin socially and will become a barren 

 waste naturally. This association concerns itself primarily with the con- 

 serration of nature's resources. We are consuming and wasting nature's 

 bequests to us, and thus impoverishing the world for the coming genera- 

 tions. We have already, beyond repair, impoverished the world in plant 

 and animal life. It has not been wilfully done, just thoughtlessly and 

 ignorantly. In some cases it has been done for financial gain. 



We are beginning to realize the waste and wontonness we have prac- 

 ticed. The signal of conservation is being sounded all over our country. 

 I am glad that Iowa, too, is sounding its bugle call. Because we are in 

 danger of losing some plant species, our thought has been turned to the 

 necessity of preserving wild plant life in Iowa. In the opening of new 

 lands, the pioneer has struggled with, and faced many hardships in his 

 race for existence. We owe a debt to those courageous souls, but they 

 and their children would have been richer had they not left everything 

 out o-f account that did not help to "make it pay." I went into Millette 

 county, South Dakota, when the Rosebud agency was opened three or 

 four years ago. I never saw more beautiful wild flowers. In speaking 

 to two homesteaders I said: "You will see that these beautiful prairie 

 flowers are preserved?" The reply was: "We are not concerned about 

 flowers, we want this land to make us a good living." The spirit is too 

 prevalent over our prairies "to get more land to raise more corn to feed 

 more hogs," and it's a treadmill round that is grinding out men and 

 women of small caliber. 



The earth and the fullness thereof belong^ to man; not to destroy, rob, 

 or impoverish, but to use and enjoy, remembering that the generations to 

 follow will need the products of the soil, the trees of the forest, the fish 

 in the streams, the birds for their song and beauty as well as economic 

 value, and the inspiration of flowers and plant life. Nature stimulates 

 the imagination of men and gives them visions beyond the reach of the 

 natural eye and ear. Flowers, in the langua.ge of their color and frag- 

 rance, 'express for us thoughts and feelings that lie too deep for words. 

 The delicate tracery of ferns has given inspiration to lace makers and 

 craftsmen whether artists or architects. It seems as if some great grove 

 must have been the inspiration for the interior of the Milan cathedral. 

 Flowers have given the suggestion for decorating column and ceilings. 

 We cannot afford to ignore the inspiration of nature's inheritance. The 

 plow is driving many a delicate flower to struggle in some fence corner. 

 The homesteader and pioneer need to see that wealth does not lie alone 

 in what the soil can be made to yield. The house that contains only the 

 things absolutely to sustain life, will always remain a house, it will never 

 become a home. 



The wild rose which grows on the uplands and lowlands all over this 

 prairie state, is a beautiful and fit emblem for our state flower. It is 

 delicate and modest, beautiful and blushing, yet so sturdy and strong 

 that it can scarcely be uprooted. But not all plants have the range of 

 soil and climate of the wild rose. The more delicate plants have their 



