THE PERICP BQTPIST. 



Vol. IV. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., FEBRUARY, 1903. No. 2. 



PRACTICAL PLANT PROTECTION. 



BY WILLARD N. CLUTE. 



IT is to be expected that a movement founded so largely 

 upon sentiment as that for the protection of our native 

 flora, should at its beginning call forth many impractica- 

 ble propositions for its advancement ; but while sentiment 

 may be v^ell enough in originating the movement, it is 

 certain that the sooner we face the facts in dealing with 

 the problems presented, the sooner something definite will 

 be achieved. It is well, at the outset, to find out what can 

 not, as well as what can be accomplished and to act 

 accordingly. 



Societies for the protection of the plants can do much 

 good, but it is an error to assume that if the Audubon 

 Society can save the birds, another society, working on 

 similar lines can perform the same service for the flowers. 

 The cases are entirely diflerent. Birds, being able to move 

 from place to place, may well be considered the property 

 of the public ; plants being fixed in the soil must neces- 

 sarily be sold with the land. There is little need to de- 

 stroy the birds, for they are seldom in man's way ; plants, 

 on the other hand frequently exist where they are not 

 wanted and their destruction is inevitable. Among the 

 plants which are thus destroyed, there are often as many 

 fair flowers as noxious weeds, but no law can protect 

 them — they must die. 



As yet, comparatively few of our wald-flowers are in 

 any great need of protection, and those that are, are most- 

 ly species of limited distribution like the sea pink (Sabba- 

 tia) or the objects of special search like certain orchids and 



