122 _ Popular Studies of California Wild Flowers _ 



It occurs to us that the ends sought by the "California Wildflower Con- 

 servation League" deserve the support of all, particularly those individuals 

 who seek recreation in the country. It is for them to rally to the support of 

 an organization such as that which you represent, and endeavor to put an 

 end to the wanton destruction of wild flowers and shrubs, that has been going 

 on the past few months. 



Congratulating you for the work accomplished and wishing you greater 

 success, I am, 



R. F. O'ROURKE, 

 President Tamalpais Conservation Club. 



SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., DEC. 20, 1919. 



I am very happy to note that excellent publicity is being given to your 

 effort in conserving the wild flowers of California. I feel satisfied that once 

 it is realized that many of our wild flowers and shrubs are threatened with 

 extinction, public opinion will be a great aid in the enactment of necessary 

 laws and regulation and their enforcement. It is unfortunate that much of 

 the destruction that now takes place is committed by persons of ability and 

 means, by persons one naturally feels should take a pride in being found in 

 the vanguard of the conservation movement, that means so much for Cali- 

 fornia and involves nothing but the sacrifice of a bit of selfish enjoyment in 

 the interest of the public welfare. California is a wonderful out-door play- 

 ground and I sincerely hope that through the efforts of yourself and associ- 

 ates the playground may be kept ever beautiful and not stripped of all its 

 color. To this end, one may profitably devote both time and energy and feel 

 assured that the work is not in vain. 



Very truly yours, 



W. C. FANKHAUSER, 

 Vice-President, Tamalpais Conservation Club. 



DECEMBER 5, 1919. 



I am very glad indeed to know that your association is interesting itself 

 in the preservation of the Christmas Berry bush (Heteromeles arbutifolia). 

 I have noticed the ruthless manner in which the ordinary person is inclined 

 to gather Christmas berries. Large limbs are frequently torn from the bush, 

 which seriously maims it and tends to interfere with its fruiting ability. 



The National Forests are administered under the policy that all of their 

 resources can and should be conservatively and wisely put to use. For ex- 

 ample, we sell several hundred million feet of stumpage annually to the 

 various lumber companies throughout the State, but our contracts specify 

 that only the mature trees are to be cut, that the logging shall be carefully 

 conducted so as not to injure young growth or trees remaining, and that the 

 brush and refuse resulting from cutting shall be properly disposed of so as 

 not to create a continuous fire menace. We feel that Christmas berries con- 

 tribute largely to the cheerfulness of homes during the holiday season, and 

 that the gathering of these berries should not be prohibited, but should be 

 wisely regulated as we regulate the cutting of timber on our National Forests. 

 It is suggested that if all owners of land where this shrub is found would 

 co-operate in a campaign of public education, much good could be accom- 

 plished along this line. The berries should be gathered by cutting the ter- 

 minal branches cleanly with a knife, taking care, at the same time, not to 

 mangle the tree by the breaking off of large limbs. We would be exceedingly 

 glad to co-operate with your League in educating the public along this line 

 and I am, today, calling this matter to the attention of our officers on the 

 National Forests. 



As you know, our forests are generally situated some distance from the 

 large centers of population where the problem is not as vital a one as it is 

 near such centers where the larger part of this collecting of Christmas berries 

 is going on. 



Very sincerely yours, 



(Signed) T. D. WOODBURY, 



Assistant District Forester. 



