PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 233 



be worked out by each community in its own way, in the absence of any 

 power to levy taxes for such purposes. 



In so-mie states there are laws for the protection of certain plants where 

 the danger of extermination has awakened the public to a realization of 

 the situation. Something has already been done to preserve and protect 

 plant life in public parks and preserves by some of the states. The 

 proper authorities in Iowa have power to adopt and enforce regulations 

 forbidding the destruction of plant life in public places. But legal re 

 strictionis of themselves are only feebly educational, and do not effectively 

 furnish the desired protection. 



Too often legal prohibitions seem only to serve to call attention to the 

 fact that certain plants are rare or beautiful to crude or mischievous per- 

 sons who delight to break such laws. Posters have been used forbidding 

 under the penalties of the law the gathering of wild flowers and ferns, the 

 destruction of any tree or shrub, or the setting of fires in public parks and 

 reservations, but the shocking devastation of the woods and parks con- 

 tinues, nevertheless. How, then, may we preserve and protect the natural 

 beauties oif the field and woodland? Manifestly only by the gradual 

 process of education. The appeal for the preservation of the wild flowers 

 cannot be made on the basis of their economic value, though they do fur- 

 nish considerable flood for the honey bee and the birds, >as well a,s shelter 

 for native birds and animals, and their mold helps to enrich the soil. The 

 plea must be addressed to the aesthetic sense, to love of the beautiful in 

 nature for its own sake, and to the charm of the beautiful in nature as a 

 joy-giving and refining influence. 



Every civic center, every state institution, university, and college, 

 should maintain at least one natural park, including wild woodland, and, if 

 possible, a river, or water in some form. It should have walks and drives, 

 but no set planting whatever. The planting, if necessary at adl, should be 

 of the native species of wild plants and shrubs, planted naturally and then 

 permitted to multiply in nature's own way. The blue grass should be kept 

 out of the wooded tracts to preserve the more delicate and refined native 

 plants, as blue grass, so valuable to the farmer, will drive the native 

 plants out of the woods. 



There should be more private preserves in Iowa. I had never heard of 

 a wild floweir preserve in Iowa until I read in a newspaper this fall of Mr. 

 Pellett's preserve at Atlantic. Mr. Pellett, according to this newspaper 

 article, advocates a preserve for every county, or if possible for every 

 township. The magazines and papers often mention private or club bird 

 reservations. But as plants and birds go together it is unquestionably 

 true that these bird preserves protect the flowers as well. 



There is a way in which all of us may help to arouse latent love for 

 the beautiful in nature, and that is by organizing and joining roadside 

 gardening clubs. Such a club would be open to all, would cost nothing 

 but personal interest, would not require state or county aid, and would 

 add much to the pleasure and enjoyment of the community. The sole ob- 

 ject would be to beautify the drives around your respective towns and 

 cities by sowing wild flowers and planting native shrubs and trees along 

 the public highways. Care should be taken not to sow the seeds of plants 

 that are likely to become noxious weeds. Rather plant the best of the 



