CHAPTER VII 



PLANT PROBLEMS: PRESERVATION OF WILD FLOWERS, 

 CONTROL OF WEEDS, MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



Groups of plants present civic problems of no less impor- 

 tance than those of birds and insects. For beautiful landscapes 

 the people of a locality must learn to cooperate in preserving 

 and planting native trees, shrubs, and vines. Additional study 

 of these is taken up from this point of view in chapters on 

 Forestry and Landscape Gardening. 



Conservation of native plants. Many of our most beautiful 

 native plants are in danger of extermination. To educate 

 against wanton destruction a society of national membership 

 has been organized, 1 and if all can be induced to join in rea- 

 sonable conservation of these common interests, we may have 

 much more attractive and interesting woods, parks, and 

 country roadsides. Do you have trailing arbutus, fringed gen- 

 tian, cardinal flower, maidenhair fern, pink lady's-slipper grow- 

 ing in abundance ? By inquiry from parents, grandparents, or 

 older members of the community, can you make out a list of 

 native plants that have become rare and need protection in 



1 Society for the Protection of Native Plants, Boston, Massachusetts. 

 For leaflets, address the Boston Society of Natural History. 

 This society urges that we all use : 



1. Moderation. Do not pick all that you find. Many flowers must be left to 

 develop seeds for future plants. 



2. Care. Never pull up the plant, for the roots are of no use in a hunch of 

 flowers, and their destruction means the extinction of the plant. Cut when possible. 



3. Judgment. Many flowers, such as wild roses, asters, and goldenrod, may 

 be picked with impunity, but when flowers are few or rare do not pick them. Do 

 not pick flowers which must die before you reach home, nor great quantities of 

 those flowers whose grace and beauty are better seen in a few than in many 

 massed together. 



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