The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-14
TO PROTECT NATIVE
AMERICAN PLANTS
Society Suggested To- Guilt
Vate Wild Flowers.
IN DANGER OF DIFFERENTIATION
Smithsonian Institution Starts a Move
ment to Organize Patriotic American
Society on the Plan Of the Audubon.
Some Noxious Weeds of This Country.
Uncle Sam is getting sentimental.

Uncle sam IS getting sentimental.
He is also becoming quite practical. His
latest fad is the organization of society
for the preservation of native plants, and
the wild sage and the goldenrod may soon
be extensively cultivated
The Smithsonian Institution has started
the movement, through F. H. Knowlton,
who has written an appeal for the preser-
walton of plant life native to American
soil, much of which. he declares. is in
danger of determination. Succor for the
daisy anc care and attention for the but
tercupl The National Museum viii under
take to keep fnviOlate all Of these and
many more, and the ruthless hand Of the
destroyer will be made to hesitate when
about to pluck a handful of pasture-land
blooms. "Woodman, spare that tree, -
viii be replaced by 'Botanist, refrain
from pulling that weed" The United
States itself, in all the majesty of law and
order, viii step in and prohibit the de-
struction of American growing things
What next?
This is the frs suggestion Of what may
become a widespread public movement y
utitLSe VI uaIA4 lEA4A-@AAGu EJ SGubtI4StLt
and society may soon be organized to do
for plant life what the Audubon Society
has already accomplished for the birds
Cultivation of public sentiment, the effect
ing of legal enactment, and other meas
ures which have been successful in pre-
serving the lives Of thousands Of song
birds will be used
Like Emerson's desired friend. We have
named almost all the birds without a
gun" says Mr. Knowlton. Now we are
called upon to fulfill the other conditions,
To love the woOdrose and leave it on its
stalk
Already this care and attention IS
being given the forests of the country
After suffering much devastation. they
are now receiving at least part OF the
attention that the best interests OF our
wood and water supplies demand. But
the care of the forest has a decided adj
vantage over that of mere shrubs and
bushes, in that trees have a definite value
in dollars and cents, and the regulation
of cutting makes direct appeal to
financial interests.
The plants, On the contrary, the loss
Of which would mar the charm Of wood
land and meadow, have no commercial
value, and the appeal must be made mere
~ to sentiment and love of nature
Sentiment doesn't fill the corn cribs.
replies the practical farmer. 1T doesn't
feed the stock, nor increase the value Of
the farm It's fine thing for the seien-
lists down at the National Museum, but
it's hard on the man with the hoe "
'<The man with the hoe as a matter of
fact, would be out OF a job IL the SEMI
ments prevail Chicken weed. wild car
rots, milk weed-these must be left alone.
They are native plants Tear them up,
Mercy. oh, fie- Let the harmless little
things stay. They make the landscape
beautiful. Very beautiful sentiment sur
rounds the whole proposition. The rail
fences along sleepy southern fields must
be uRdisturbed Of their cIinging growth
of weeds and briars, for many Of the
plants are native Americans. They must
not be exterminated- The poison oak
must be allowed to stay. It would be IN
patriotic to dig it up, root and branch,
and burn il.
But the step has been taken. A society
viii be organized on the lines of the Au-
dubon Society. with local chapters, a
journal and press bureau. The name
''ToTrey Society has been suggested, in
honor of the American botaRist contem-
porary with the great American ornithol
ogist.
First Of all the public school teachers
viii be enlisted in the movement and
through them the thousands of school
children. School gardens, where the stu
dents may be taught all about flowers, as
a short time ago they we're initiated into
the mysteries Of bugs, have been sug-
gested. Signs viii be erected in regions
where any plants are in danger Of ex-
termination, and passersby viii be re-
qUested not TO pluck. The Smithsonian
scientists are in earnest
The milk weed will hold its head proud
~ in the air yet.