108 AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL 
Plant Sanctuaries. 
ELIZABETH G. BRITTON. 
Since the Audubon Society began founding its Bird 
Sanctuaries there has been an increasing sentiment 
among those interestéd in the conservation of wild life 
to do the same for plants. The Ecological Society of 
America has attempted to get together all the informa- 
tion available concerning native plants needing protec- 
tion and the localities where they are still abundant in 
their natural conditions. This information has not yet 
been made public, but in a brief report published in 
Science on May 6th, 1921, the statement is made that 
even in our National Parks no special effort is being 
made to mantain them as natural areas and that science 
has left the general public, who look upon them mainly 
as recreation parks, quite uninformed as to the advantages 
of biological studies in these National Parks. Some 0 
the members of the American Association of Park 
Superintendents have also been interested in the pre- 
servation of our native plants in places where it is possible 
and are advocating their planting as food and shelter 
for birds and animals. The various Garden Clubs of 
the United States are also advocating the planting and 
cultivating of many of our native plants and creating 2 
demand among dealers for seeds and roots. 
The ferns are sharing in the general interest and some 
of them have become commercialized and are becoming 
rare or extinct in consequence. Probably the most 
dangerous enemy of the ferns is fire. Next to fire, 
transplanting into unsuitable localities where they 
promptly die, causes the destruction of many. Auto- 
mobile parties come in from the country laden with 
cinnamon and other ferns, plant them in sunny dry 
places and repeat the experiment with other ferns, in- 
definitely. The use of native ferns for table decoration 
