120 Popular Studies of California Wild Flowers 



It will be remembered by many people that our Wild Flower 

 Conservation League conducted a vigorous and justified campaign 

 last year for the better protection and conservation of the Christmas 

 Berry tree. As a direct result of these efforts, a great deal of 

 splendid sentiment was aroused and in several counties and localities 

 throughout the State the supervisors or local magistrates adopted 

 measures (and enforced them also) prohibiting people from wan- 

 tonly gathering, destroying or injuring trees. In a number of in- 

 stances, where such vandalism was particularly lawless and unneces- 

 sary, quite severe penalties were imposed ; and, indeed, became neces- 

 sary, if the people of California desire to retain any semblance of 

 the colorful charm these beautiful trees impart to our autumn land- 

 scapes and scenic highways. It is encouraging to know that excel- 

 lent support to this movement has been rendered by leading and 

 influential citizens of the State, including many distinguished scien- 

 tists and educators, whose sentiments at this time are well worth 

 quoting. They should prove invaluable in strengthening the interest 

 already created in this work, and assist in crystallizing sentiment into 

 action, such as will eventually bring about protective legislation. 



STANFORD UNIVERSITY, DEC. 16, 1919. 



I am especially interested in your efforts to protect the Tollon or Christ- 

 mas Berry, which is now being so ruthlessly slaughtered among the mountains 

 and beside our streams. It is a noble plant, one of our most beautiful native 

 trees, but it has little chance to show what it might be if the branches are torn 

 off in the wanton fashion in which I see them carried about every day. Some 

 one ought to be encouraged to cultivate the Christmas Berry for the sake of 

 its ornamental fruits. 



Very truly yours, 



DAVID STARR JORDAN. 



SANTA ROSA, DEC. 16, 1919. 



Our beautiful wild trees, shrubs and flowers should be preserved. It may 

 not be evident to all, yet it is of far more importance than the preservation 

 of the game birds and almost ranks with the preservation of our Yosemites 

 and Big Trees, for when once carelessly destroyed, these beautiful wildings 

 can never be replaced in their wild, refreshing, native beauty. 



Twenty-five years ago great stretches of the bay shore were lighted up 

 for months with the brilliant scarlet of the Toyon or "Christmas Berries" 

 (Hetcromeles) and now the hillsides of Sonoma County are being robbed of 

 all these. Automobile, trailer and truck loads of these and Christmas trees 

 and other wild greenery pass on the State highway at this season, mostly for 

 commercial purposes, and while dwellers in the cities deserve and should have 

 a taste of wild nature, yet the wholesale destruction of the most shapely and 

 graceful trees will be sadly lamented, not only in the ravaged countryside, but 

 by city dwellers, also. It is time to think of saving some of our most beautiful 

 trees, shrubs and flowering plants from extermination. 



LUTHER BURBANK. 



KENTFIELD, MARIN COUNTY, MARCH 8, 1920. 



I am deeply and personally interested, as you know, in the preservation 

 of the native flora of California. Tamalpais is being denuded of huckleberry, 

 rhododendron and especially of Christmas berries and also fern. Our home 

 place has been practically stripped. 



We have long been trying to teach decent country manners to city people, 

 but there is an idea that "forest plunder" is justified. Indeed, there appeared 



