CHAPTER \'II 



TLAXT rUOBLEMS: rRESERVATION OF WILD FLOW KKS, 

 CONTROLOF WEEDS, MEDICINAL AND PoiSOXOIS j'LAXTS 



Groups of plants present civic problems oi no k-ss iiui)or- 

 tance than those of birds and insects. For lu'iiutifnl lands('ai)cs 

 the people of a locality must learn to co()peratc in prescrvint^ 

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

 of these is taken u[) from this point of view in Lha|)ters on 

 Forestry and Landscape Gardening. 



Conservation of native plants. ^Many of our most beautiful 

 native plants are in danger of extermination. To educate 

 ao-ainst wanton destruction a society of national memlu-rship 

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

 sonalde conservation of these common interests, \\-e may have 

 much more attractive and hiteresting woods, parks, and 

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

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

 ing in abundance ? I>y inquiry from parents, grandinirents, or 

 older members of the connnunity, can you maki' out a list ot 

 native plants that have become rare and need protection m 



1 Society for the Protection of Native riaiits, Huston. Massaclinsctts. 

 For leaflets, address the Boston Society of Natural History. 

 This society urge.s that we all nse : 



1. Morleration. Do not pick all that you lin.l. M:niy lluwi-rs must W left to 

 develop seeds for future plants. 



2. Care. Never pull up the plaut. for the roots are of no use in a bunch of 

 flowers, and their destruction means the extinction of the plaut. ( 'ut wheji possible. 



3. Jnnfftnenl. Many tiowers. such as wild roses, asters, au.l u'oldcun»d, may 

 he picked with inii)unity. but when tiowers are few or rare d<. not pick them. Do 

 not pick flowers which luust die before you reach home. n(.r jrreat fmantities of 

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

 massed together. 



07 



