WILD FLOWERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 3

WILD FLOWERS.

PROPOSED AMERICAN PLANT SANCTUARY.

“Has the wild flower any rights? Can it not call upon the State for legal protection?” asks Ralph C. Benedict of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in asking for amendment to the New York State Conservation Law providing for “plant sanctuaries,” and an educational, programme such as is being worked out in Fairfield, Conn. Ln an interview’ with a ' representative of the Christian.. Science Monitor lie •said: “Some 25 years ago the nature lover was encouraged to follow’ his bent collecting the nests and eggs of native birds. But our bird life came to be known as economically important as our allies against crop-destroying insects, as well as beautiful bits of life. Now the protection of birds is written into our State conservation laws with unmistakable force and effect.

“Wild flowers have no legal rights. For trees the protection of the State may he invoked", because with the loss of tree cover the whole State will suffer, otherwise the plant is the property of the owner of the land in w’hich it is rooted, and this ownership is established bv Federal Constitution. However, it has been' found possible to afford some measure of protection hv State enactments. Six States have already passed game laws for native plants: Connecticut. California. Marvland, Illinois. Vermont, and Wisconsin* Wo hope that New York may soon join this list. “Some native plants are so rare that one may see but a single specimen in a long day's visit to the woods. Most wild orchids are in this category. New York State has one fern species for which there are localities in only two countries, and which is known ' elsewhere in the United States in only one other State. When such rarities attract the careless picker their knell is sounded. Y