The Washington herald., 1921-07-22
OUR WILD FLOWERS
ARE DISAPPEARING.

The destruction OF the Yzst herds
Of bison on our Western plains. tn
total extinction Of the formerly
abundant wild pigeon. the eNtermi-
nation OF many Of the most besutl-
full OF our wild birds, all this Is a
matter NJ common knowledge. How
many OF US. however. realize that
the same rspacious spirit Of de-
structicn has seriously endangered
our wild plant life, until many CT
our most desirable plants have ac-
tually disappeared from wide arNas
Of our country?
According to Albert a. Hansen
Of the Bureau Of Plant Industry
Of the Department Of Agriculture.
extinction Of wild flowers in the vi
cinitv OF Washington lie not q pos
sibiIity but in many cases a fact.
where the formerly luxuriant
display Of laurel. rhododendron.
holly, ground pines. and srbutus has
in many places been supplanted by
weedy and generally unattractive
species" he says. "All the plants
named are almost extinct within 4
wide radius of the city and the wild
orchids. spring beauties, bluebells.
and many other species Of rare
grace and beauty are vanishing
rpidlv and will soon live in mem
ory only unless active steps are
taken to save them"
The earliest Europeans in Amer
lea found in the new world a nora
marvelously rich in its abundance
of speces and indescribably beau
tiful in its display Of attractive
plants. Since the time OF the ear
liest settlers this wonderful nora
has suffered a gradual depletion
until at present the fora in many
regions is a mere relic Of the past.
Each spring witnesses the de-
scent Of legions ~ thouChtless
nower gstherers who rsvish the
fora with hardly a thought that
the tearing away Of the flowers robs
most plants OF their only methods
Of reproduction. These misguided
hordes gather huge armfuls and
basketfuls Of hepatics. anemone.
bloodroot and dozens Of other rap
idly-wilting plants. which are en-
loved for the moment but are soon
strewn along the highways and by
ways in withered. unsighuy masses.
mute evidence Of wanton destruc-
flOn OIL HlosfN pNAANNN
The process Of eNtermination has OF
late been largely aided and widely
( extended by the new enemy N our
flora. the automobile, penetrating
into region. formerly remote or IN
accessible and returning loaded
with huge piles Of dropping with
cred branches Of towering dogwood.
redbud. and service berry. torn
out by trespassers who had neither
moral nor legal justification Tor
such dishguration.
..Tbc danger 70 our wild flora is
SO great as TO have already been
recognized by legislators. 4 recent
MARYLAND Law forbids the removal
Of plants unless either the written
consent of tho owner OF the
prernis.s has been obtained or else
under the owners personal super
vision"
/ II is especially desirable that
plsnts such as the ~intergreen be
allowed to mature fruit as food for
birds during the harsh winter
months. Mr.. Hansen points out.
without this source OF food. many
birds die of winter starvation. The
! picking Of such weedy but attractive
plants as daisies. buttercups. golden
rod and asters should be encour-
aged. since by so doing no harm re-
suits and the farmer is assisted
with his weed problem. In addition,
the cultivation Of wild plants in
our gardens may save many species
for the enjoyment OF future gen
erations.