EDITORIAL 



One of our numerous societies for the protection of our 

 native wild flowers lists the spring beauty (Claytonia) and the 

 violet among the plants needing special protection and adds 

 that the flowers of late summer may be freely picked. It may 

 be doubted whether the violet and spring beauty stand in need 

 of protection, but there are certainly some flowers of late sum- 

 mer that do. The idea that such blossoms may be freely picked 

 must contribute not a little to the destruction of the gentians, 

 sabbatias and the cardinal flower. AMiat we need is not pro- 

 hibition of all flower gathering, but discrimination in picking. 

 In all our eft'orts toward flower protection it should be remem- 

 bered that this movement is scarcely comparable with that 

 which is so successfully protecting the birds. Even the con- 

 servation of our forests is on a different footing^ Forests are 

 not sufiiciently portable to be carried off by an individual — only 

 a Trust can rob us of them — nor are birds fastened to perches 

 where they must remain until someone chooses to. take them. 

 If given half a chance the birds can remove themselves from 

 harm's way; they do not go with the land. But with flowers 

 it is different; though as attractive to many persons as the 

 birds they cannot avoid anyone who wishes to pick them. If 

 one refrains from killing a bird, there is a chance that it may 

 fly away where others cannot secure it, but, in most cases, if 

 one refrains from flower gathering he simply leaves the flowers 

 to be picked by others. It is also to be remembered that flowers 

 are universally regarded as intended for gathering. There is 

 not a town of any size in the country where there is not one 



