St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-05-20
Protection of Native Plants.

The following is an excerpt from leaf
let published under the auspices OF the
Society for the Protection OF Native
Plants and was written by Robert I.
Jackson:
Many persons interested in our native
plants feel that there is great danger OF
partial or complete determination OF
many of the most interesting and attract
i've forms in the neighborhood OF our
large cities. from the wholesale destruc-
ton to which they are subjected.
The greatest destruction, perhaps, is
that of collecting flowers in an extensive
way for sale in the streets in spring and
summer, and of evergreens, especially at
| Christmas time, ior the decoration OF
houses and churches. Besioes this col
Letting for sale, there is often thought
lessness and wastetul extravaganza in
the picking of wild flowers, especially
when at the same time the roots are
pulled up, as is too often the case. This
extensive collecting and picking is seri-
Gus menace to many plants which do so
much to give the country one of its great
est charms.
The collection of flowers and decora-
tive plants for sale can be effectually dis.
couraged if the public appreciates the
danger to the plants and absta1us partly
or entirely from purchasing those plants
whose existence is threatened by whole
sale collecting. This does not mean that
we may not pick any wild flowers, or
purchase any that have been picked fo1
sale, but that some discrimination shoulc
be exercised to protect certain delicate OF
slow-going forms.
} The first principle that should b'
, urged is, that in collecting, the flower OF
branch should be cut, not torn off, which
; so often needlessly pulls up the root o.
initiates the shrub or tree, thus com
r pletely or partially preventing furthe
f growth.
r To the collector for the flowers sake
5 a word of caution is reasonable. DO no
| pick all that may be found, for flower
$ must be left to develop seeds tor futur
:. generations of plants; and always Gu
:. them, never pull up the plants, tor tn
n roots are of no use in bunch of flowers
and their destruction means the tots
extinction OF so many individuals.
= Some of the plants which PARTICULAR
need protection in this vicinity we WI
y briefly consider.
, The Mayhower, Trailing Arbutus,
h an early blooming plant OF exceptions
:, charm, is collected in the most Who'll
sale and destructive manner. The SLOW
, growing runners are pulled up bodll.
and then the flowers are picked OFT an
:, shipped to market in enormous quaint
Il ties, The plant is slow grower yer
j. J, difficult, practically impossible to cult
q yate: and it's determination within a
Is area around our large cities OF te
II hours by rail is almost certain unle
the ravages are checked.
Ground Pine is plant that is cut
le extensively as a winter-green that /
local determination is threatened. II
e. Maiden Hair Fern has already been
N nearly eradicated in this vicinity that
K is almost a thing of the past, but
70 favored spots where it may still llnger
s. should be strictly let alone.
as While some plants need every prot'
or ton that thoughtful people can 81
We them, others from their abundance
IS. other qualities may be picked freely, a
n are practically safe from the create
es inroads of even the collector of cut ito
IL. ers for sale. Wild Irises, Asters, Golde
ng rod, are so abundant, propagate
&C. freely, and are so widely distributed tn
ne their relative reduction by collecting ne
10 hardly be considered.
Ut Moreover, in these cases the roots
~ not pulled up, even it the flowers
is car, lessly picked, so that the plants SCI
Ter able to resist any conceivable amount
or picking for sale or otherwise.
at violets excepting the Crowfoot Viole
ere Marsh Marigolds or Cowslips and Ho
ed tomas are so abundant that no harm
ng seems, cap come from their indiscrlmln'
picking. Field Daisies, or WhiteWe
nd and Buttercups, while not native Ito
M ers, occur in abundance about cultivat
de- areas. They are charming; and til
ac- collection in the most wholesale way
WIS virtue as well as a pleasure, as tend
on to check the spread of these introdu
lng plants.