66 



possible such weedy but handsome plants as the numerous 

 goldenrod, asters, etc., thereby contributing their mite toward 

 aiding the farmer with his weed problem. 



Another practice, now practically discontinued as a result of 

 the efforts of the society, was the custom of using ground-pine, 

 Lycopodium sp., pipsissewa, CliimapMla umhellata, and spotted 

 wintergreen, Chimaphila maculata, at receptions, teas and other 

 social functions for the purpose of pinning specimens of the 

 plants on the guests. This custom led to a serious depletion of 

 the spotted wintergreen in the college woods until the species 

 became almost extinct in the vicinity. It is now sincerely hoped 

 that the erstwhile abundant flora of these plants will be speedily 

 replenished by natural means. 



The immediate vicinity of the college was, until about ten 

 years ago, well stocked with wild growth of arbutus; the supply 

 was so plentiful that one needed but tramp for a few minutes from 

 the main building in order to obtain an abundant supply. Due 

 to the foolish custom of pulling out the long, creeping stems of 

 the plant, arbutus soon disappeared from the vicinity, until it is 

 necessary now for the students to tramp several miles in order to 

 obtain a sufficient supply for tokens to mothers, sisters and 

 sweethearts, in the spring of the year. The writer well remembers 

 the profusion of arbutus which ornamented Shingleton Gap, a 

 beautiful mountain pass, about three miles from the college, but 

 a few years ago. The entiie gap lias been so stripped of the 

 " sweetest flower that grows'' that the plant is practically extinct, 

 since a careful search failed to reveal a single specimen in the 

 entire gap during the spring of 191 7. The efforts of the society, 

 by means of lectures, printed statements and chapel appeals, has 

 attempted to educate the student body to pick the flowering 

 stems only and thus allow the propagating stem to remain and so 

 flower from year to year. Arbutus seeds in the vicinity of State 

 College; although but few seeds are ordinarily matured, it is felt 

 that sufficient flowers are overlooked to provide the necessary 

 seed for reproduction purposes, since the late-blooming flowers 

 are seldom picked. By the means just described it is hoped to 

 save arbutus as a valuable heritage of nature for the pleasure and 

 profit of the generations of the future. 



