Febbuabt 25, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



179 



flora, executing its trust in sucli a manner that 

 the beauty of our native wild plants may con- 

 tinue in perpetuity. 



The danger to our wild flora is so great 

 as to have already been recognized by legis- 

 lators. A recent Maryland law forbids the 

 removal of plants unless either the written 

 consent of the owner of the premises has been 

 obtained or else under the owner's personal 

 supervision. If such consent is not obtained, 

 the picking of wild flowers is a misdemeanor, 

 punishable by a fine of from five to twenty- 

 five dollars, by imprisonment from thirty to 

 ninety days or by the infliction of both of 

 these punishments. Of far greater importance 

 than the fear of punishment, however, is the 

 creation of an appreciative sentiment in favor 

 of the plants, because, after all, the ruthless 

 destroyers are really the friends of the flowers, 

 considerate and kindly disposed, but thought- 

 less in their acts. Usually a mere suggestion 

 is thrice more powerful than a threat. The 

 speaker is reminded of an experience with a 

 college class in botany to whom he had talked 

 on this subject. Some time later while on an 

 excursion into the mountains, a single lady's 

 slipper was encoimtered as a relic of a 

 formerly abundant flora of this gorgeous wild 

 orchid. Instead of the usual desire to pick 

 and wear, the flower was allowed to remain on 

 the stalk, i)erhaps to set seed and repopulate 

 the vicinity with this splendid plant. No 

 amoimt of legislation would have saved it ; the 

 appreciation of the class was shown by allow- 

 ing the flower to remain for others to enjoy. 

 A thousand people can enjoy what a single 

 hand could destroy forever. 



The remedy for the situation is to substitute 

 the present wanton, promiscuous, imguided 

 methods of gathering plants with regulated, 

 sane and rational means. It is not at all nec- 

 essary to forbid the picking of flowers, but 

 sufficient should always be allowed to remain, 

 particularly in the case of annuals, to produce 

 seed and so perpetuate the species. Plants 

 should never be gathered by the roots, as is so 

 frequently the case with hepatica, anemone 

 and bird-foot violet. Plants growing from 

 long, creeping stems, as arbutus and ground 



pine (lycopodium) should never be torn out. 

 It is best to cut the flowering stems of arbutus 

 either with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors, 

 allowing the long, leafy stem to continue its 

 work of flower-production. The beauty of 

 shrubs should never be violated by tearing 

 the branches and in so doing peeling the bark 

 to the base, thereby not only disfiguring the 

 plant but also creating ready access for the 

 entrance of fungi and other enemies which 

 cause death. In case it is felt necessary to 

 remove some of the branches of flowering 

 shrubs, it is best to select such members as 

 will mar the beauty least and cut them close 

 to the base with a sharp knife in such a 

 manner that the bark will eventually callous 

 over the woimd. Phlox, wdntergreen and 

 other scarce wild plants shoiild never be pur- 

 chased either from florists or street vendors, 

 because by so doing one merely encouragea 

 the commercial exploitation of the wild flora. 

 Eecently the speaker witnessed an exhibition 

 of goods placed upon a backgroimd of many 

 square yards of moss torn from neighboring 

 woods. Such a carpet of moss took nature 

 scores of years to build up and it should not 

 be destroyed in a moment, to be replaced by a 

 huge bare spot where formerly all was green. 

 The appreciation of the beauties of nature 

 should be taught in our schools and churches 

 where a mere hint of the situation is all that 

 is necessary to insure hearty cooperation. 

 Much can also be done by the establishment 

 of private preserves for wild life, where the 

 flora and fauna may exist undisturbed in 

 primeval splendor. 



It is especially desirable that plants such as 

 the wintergreen be allowed to mature fruit 

 as food for birds during the harsh winter 

 months. Without this source of food, many 

 birds die of winter starvation. It is desirable 

 that the picking of such weedy but attractive 

 plants as daisies, buttercups, golden rod and 

 asters be encouraged, since by so doing no 

 harm results and the farmer is assisted with 

 his weed problem. In addition, the cultiva- 

 tion of wild plants in our gardens may save 

 many species for the enjoyment of future 

 generations. 



