Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-13
TREAT MOTHER NATURE GENTLY

cut off with a knife, the plant would
pot be injured; but It is usual to take
up the whole thing by the roots. As
the arbutus propagates itself only by
runners, not by seed, this rapidly ex-
terminates it.
The moccasin flower or ladies' slip
per, native orchid of great beauty,
is another American wild flower that
is practically extinct, the scientists
say. They request that If you should
find a specimen of this plant you
content yourself with admiring it on
the stem. But you are not apt to
find one.
Other wild flSwers urgently in deed
of your clemency are the cardinal
flower, partridge berry, jack-in the
pulpit, columbinc, may-applc, lupine,
Christmas fern, spring beauty and
pond lilies Special pleas are also
made for the dogwood bushes, which
are torn to pieces by the mixers every
spring, and the holly which they hunt
so zealously every winter. Magnolia,
laurel and azalea should also be
spared. If you must take some
flowers from dogwood or magnolia
trees, or other shrubs. cut off a few
of the twigs cleanly with n pen knife.
Do not tear the tree, and do not take
! large branches. In the case of small
cr flowers, do not gather all in sight
but take few, leaving some for seed.
If you want great masses of flowers
for decoration purposes, take those tina:
grow in obvious profusion, and arc
weed pests, such as field daisies,
black-eyed susans, and Goldenrod.
Blue violets are also abundant and
hard to exterminato.
Varieties OF Nnturc-Lovers
The subject derives a special i'm
portancc from the fact that the num-
| ber of persons who go into the fields
and woods for recreation seems to be
steadily on the increase. There are
many varieties of these back-to- ma
ture enthusiasts. There are the
| amateur ornithologists who carry
field glasses and scrutinize the birds.
There are amateur botanists who
carry field manuals and long tin cans
strapped ovor their shoulders. There
| arc sentimental nature lovers who
take along mandolins and books of
poems, and indulge In music and
verse under the greenwood tree.
| There is an increasing number of
loving couples who have found that
sprinEtime and outdoors arc more
| romantic as a setting for love than d
stuffy reception room.
Tho great majority of those who go
| outdoors have no direct interest in
either birds or flowers. They do not
know thrush from a slycatcher, nor
would they recognize a fringed gen
tian IL they mot one. They do not
even know poison Ivy and nettle
whom they see them. with tho result
| that they often carelcsSly sit on such
things to their ultimate grief. They
arc suspicious of any kind OF a bug
however harmless and friendly, and
they kill every snake they sec in tho
supreme confidence that they. are
/ bcnefitinE the human race. As .
matter OF fact Tho humble garter
snake. who is generally the victim
may we'll bo worth moro to society
than is his murderer.
These people are mostly hikers and
automobilists 1t is hard to interest
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 the roadside
attract them just as a bright object
attracts n baby. Thcy get out. and
gather all In sight Especially the
women. A Sunday in the country is
not complete for tho average flappcr
unless she comes back laden with
| dropping vegetation.
1t is to these careless ones that the
Gcicn.ists mako their appeal. Take a
few flowers. they say. but don't take
them all Cut u twiE off "a bush II
you must. but don't try TO take the
bush home. Love dear old Mother
| Nature. but treat her gently.