NATIVE WOODY PLANTS OF THE UNITED STATES 7 



It seems clear that records showing a given species to be much 

 utilized can be accepted by technicians as proof of the value of the. 

 plant for wildlife. Poor records indicate either that a plant is worth- 

 less or that we do not know enough about it. If a species is found to 

 have a very poor or limited record, recourse should be had to the 

 records of the genus as a whole, exclusive of specific records, or to 

 records of very similar species ? for assistance in determining its value. 

 Certainly, when in a genus ot many species, such as Chrysothamnus 

 or Aplopappus, few or no records of utilization by wildlife appear, 

 it is not unreasonable to exclude the species from planting programs. 



There are two available sources of information relative to the use 

 of a plant by wildlife stomach analyses and field observations. In 

 most instances, the more reliable is a stomach analysis made by the 1 

 Bureau of Biological Survey or other responsible agency. The lack 

 of stomach records necessitates using reports of field observations. 

 These are open to some criticism since accurate determination of the 

 birds or mammals and plants involved is often not made, and since 

 Interpretation of the common names in which the records are so often 

 made is neither easy nor certain. In this publication if the names 

 were not thought to be clear, they have been referred to the genus. 

 Cottam (138) has mentioned also that in an actual instance field 

 observations alone were much less than 50-percent accurate in 

 appraising food values in the diet of a bird. 



The exact nutritive value of any given plant food has not yet been 

 determined. We are yet scarcely far enough along to examine the 

 chemical composition of various fruits and seeds of wild plants and 

 their place in the diet of any animal. Hosley (290) has considered 

 the chemical composition of some, and has noted the obvious fact that 

 fruits may furnish vitamins. The staple value of acorns and the seed 

 of conifers, such as pines, is well known. This field of investigation 

 should indeed be a valuable one. 



HIGHWAY PLANTING 



The increasing use of vegetation for the beautification of highways 

 makes it of interest here to mention that such work can be turned to 

 the benefit of wildlife as well as to the control of erosion. Indeed, 

 the conservation of soil on highway cuts can very profitably be 

 planned with a view to beautifying the road. 



Certain fundamental principles relating to highway planting have 

 been clearly enunciated by Simonson, senior landscape architect of 

 the Bureau of Public Koads. In the following statement he sets 

 forth the basic ideas to be kept in mind in such work (513, pp. 172- 

 174): 



The primary purpose of highway planting is to enhance the peculiar qualities 

 in the views and scenery of the surroundings through which a highway passes 

 so that the development within the highway limits will be properly consistent 

 and appropriate to that which lies over the fence or beyond the highway borders, 

 and will, therefore, present to the motorist the best of the landscape qualities 

 inherent in it. 



The creation of landscape effects on the usually limited highway areas with 

 little or almost no attention to the surroundings is not the correct approach and 

 cannot be considered satisfactory roadside improvement. A systematic study 

 of the native flora along and immediately adjacent to the highway will indicate 



