The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-15
Frederic Haskin's Letter
Treat Mother Nature Gently.

cause, II merely the flovrrr
cut on with a knife, thu NJ,
would not be injured; but II i. s s.u.
TO take up the whole thing i, ~
roots. As the arbutus prons., se
itself only by runners. NOT Nv ~
this rapidly exterminates Il '
The moccasin flowers or ha,...
slipper, a native orchid Of. ~.
beauty. Is another Americs, 1
flower that is practically sr,,sl -
the scientists say. They reoss
that II you should find . snsc;s
Of this plant you content yoS,1...
with adimring it on the stan -.
you are not apt to find ona
Other wild flowers urgent, !
need OF your clemency are ths ~ =
dinal flower. partridge berry. ~
-in-the-puipit, columbine, M,
apple lupine, Christmas ~
spring beauty and pond lilies Gu
ial pleas are also made for fhs ~
wood bushes, which are tnrr s
pieces py me mixers every sprinr
and the holly which they hnr,
zealously every winter. Marno,;.
laurel and azalea should also H.
spared. If you must take .o, "
flowers from dogwood or marnn Is
trees. or other shrubs, cut OF = ~
CT the twigs Clearly with ~.
knife. Do not. tear the tree and A.
rot take large branches. In c,..
of smaller flowers. do not gather 81
in sight, leaving some for seed r
you want great masses of flov...
for decoration purposes. take tbo.s
that grow in obvious profusion and
are weed pests, such as field daisiss
black-eyed susans, and goldenrrS
Blue violets are also abundant ana
hard to exterminate.
Varieties Of Nature Loyers
The subject derives a special i'm
portance from the fact that Tho
number of persons who 20 into tho
fields and woods for recrea,;or
seems to be steadily on the increase
There are mary varieties of thess
back-to-nature enthusiasts. Thers
are the amateur ornithologists VIII,
! carry field glasses and scrutini,e
the birds. There are amateur hit.
anists who carry field manuals and
long tin cans strapped over their
shoulders. There are sentimental
nature lovers who take mandolins
and books of poems. and indulge in
music and verse under the green.
wood tree. There is an increasing
number Of loving couples who hays
found that springtime and outdoors
are more romantic as a setting for
love than a stuffy reception room.
The great majority of those who
go outdoors have no direct interest
in either birds or flowers. They do
not know a thrush from a fy-
catcher, nor would they recognize
a fringed gentian If they met one.
They do not even know poison wv
and nettle when they see them, with
the result that they often care.
lessly sit on such things to their
ultimate grief. They are suspicious
Of any kind of a bug, however
harmless and friendly. and they
kill every snake they see in the su.
preme confidence that they are
benefiting the human race. As q
matter Of fact the humble garter
snake, who is generally the victim,
may we'll be worth more to society
I! than is his murderer.
These people are mostly mixers
and Automobiles. 1t is hard to in.
terest them in protecting the birds
! and wild flowers because they know
| nothing about either. Yet these are
the very ones who destroy valuable
plants. Some bright flowers by TIL
roadside attract them just as a
bright objects attracts a baby. They
get out and gather all in sight Es
pecially the women. A Sunday il
the country, is not complete for TIL
average flapper unless she comel
back laden with dropping vegeta
ton.
| 1t is to these careless ones tina
the scientists make their appeal
Take few flowers, they say, bu
don't take them all. Cut twig Of
q bush if you must, but don't try 4
take the bush home. Love dea
old Mother Nature, but trsat he
1 gently.