Introducing Something New 115 



portance. All of these transplantings were done with high 

 purpose, but all are living examples of the evil consequences 

 of the importing of an animal without the long-established 

 checks which keep it in its proper place in the country where 

 it originated. 



The small number of these new species perhaps justifies 

 the conclusion that these introductions are not so simple as 

 they might appear. The dropping of seeds by birds does not 

 necessarily mean that the seeds will establish themselves. 

 They must land in the proper places and in soil in which 

 they are fitted to grow. Even in favorable spots they may be 

 picked up by rodents or birds, or washed away by spring 

 rains, or carried beyond the water depths they can tolerate. 

 If they succeed in sprouting, the well-established vegetation 

 about them may choke them promptly or the tender growth 

 may be eaten by animals which overlooked the seed. Seeds 

 which enter the area by floating may be obstructed by 

 aquatic growth and never reach land. Success for one season 

 does not mean that the plant will continue to grow. It may 

 fail to set seed, the seed may be washed away by the fall 

 rains or eaten by the busy nesting birds and their young. 

 The whole plant may become part of a muskrat's meal. It has 

 been said that not one trial in a thousand or a million will 

 prosper— the only answer is that there are enough thousands 

 or millions of trials so that now and then one does succeed. 



I do not refer to the dozens of plants which I have seen 

 bloom for a year and then disappear, nor do I have in mind 

 the weeds which are everywhere and which invade all new or 

 burned-over ground. The system of seed dispersal of these 

 invaders apparently is so effective and their tenacity so great 

 that their appearance, growth, and survival can be regarded 

 as almost a certainty. The marsh also displays each year new 

 pinks and blues and whites, obviously garden escapes, which 

 have enough pioneer spirit to make a brave start but lack the 

 strength and adaptability to endure. 



