The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-26
EXTINCTION OF WILD FLOWER
In Gathering Buds the Stems Shoult
Be Cut and Not Broke Off. rS =.
Boston Transcript.

~.
1t seems that it is Shigh time. ipersons
of influence exerted themselves to save
the wild flowers, even as 1t has Deen
necessary to che ak the slaughter of birds,
for eating, or to secure their plumage for
hat trimmings. Somehow there seems to
reside in careless minds conviction that
because flower is wild 1t is bound to
grow whether one wants it to do SO or
not; while in very careless minds, there
is present deplorable sentiment to- the
effect that it is not matter to be given
second though If flowers do stop grow
ing altogether in the woods and fields. ~.
So, after summing up all the phases Of
the situation, numerous public spirited
people got together and formed Society
for the protection of Native Plants. AS
means of carrying on this work the So
,ciety propose to publish brief ARTICLES or
leaflets for distribution to teachers in our
schools, to village improvement societies,
and to all persons willing to make use of
them. DWellers in cities clap their hands
and rejoice when street stands laden
with arbutus announce the official COM
ing of spring, and feel quite as strong
emotions of joy when at Christmas time
the streets smell like the heart of the
Maine pine woods But these joys have
meant, it now turns out, a ruthless rob-
bing of the country to thus add to the
city's attractions. Now, though it Is not
10 DE- stopped, IL is TO De FeSuldteu, OF dI
least an attempt is to be made to do this.
In Connecticut laws have been passed look
ing to the preservation and protection OF
the Hartford trailing fern and the May
flower two plants which are most sought
and which wholesale collecting threatens
to extermnate at least locally. -
Although those who gather flowers for
market do the most damage, it may not
do bit of harm if a few hints on the,
e,iIf
boarders' and sojourners in all country
places To this end there follow extracts
from the society's leaflet Mo. L:
'The first principle that should be
urged is, that in collecting; the flower
or branch, should: be cut, not torn off,
which so often reedlessly pulls up the
root or mutilates the shrub or tree, thus
completely or partially preventing further
growth. >t' .,,# s--- -,
- 'Do not pick all that$may be found, for
flowers must be left to develop seeds for
future generations, of plants, and always
cut them neyerSpu1l UP the plants, for the
roots are Of no use in a bunch Of flowers,
and their destruction means the total
extinction of SO many Individuals
''Whi1e some plants need every protec-
tion that thoughtful people can give them,
others from their abundance orr other
qualities may be picked freely, and are
practically safe from the greatest in
roads Of even the collector of cut flowers
for sale. Wild irises, asters, goldenrod
are so abundant, propagate so readily.
and so wildly distributed that their rela-
tive reduction by collecting need hardly
be considered Moreover, in these cases
the roots are not pulled up, even if the
flowers are carelessly picked, SO that the
plants seem able to resist any conceivable
amount Of picking for sale or otherwise.
"Violets excepting the crowfoot vio-
let), marsh marigolds or cowslips and
Houst onias, are so abundant that no harm,
it. seems, can come from their indis-
criminate picking. Field daisies, or
whiteweed, and buttercups, while not
native flowers, occur n abundance about
cultivated areas. They are charming,
and their collection in the most whole
sale way is virtue as well as pleasure,
as tending to check the spread Of these
introduced plants"