Perceptions of Herbology: The Gardening Effect

Today, herbology suffers mock and scorn within wizarding circle. This decline in the value of herbology, most ironically, is due to the natural world. As muggles have developed rapidly over the past few centuries, their views have developed, and the opinion that nothing exists but the material world is common today, that something only exists if it can be observed and studied. We witches and wizards are very aware of the invisible reality, and we understand the special energy that is magic. The Wizarding World, viewing muggles as inferior beings, observed this opinion, and decided that anything part of this so called material world, the natural world, was also inferior, simply because it wasn't magic. Of course, there is an astounding number of flaws within this system. Aren't witches and wizards themselves part of this natural world they so ignorantly cast aside? Are we not magical as well as part of the natural world? What about magical creatures? And of course, what about plants.

 

"Our world is filled with spectacular magic. The physical, natural world is a part if our reality, although it is not all of it. But this physical natural reality joins with our own invisible, mystical reality. And plants, magical or muggle (but never truly mundane), are a beautiful, significant, complex part of everything. And this is why Herbology is an important field in magical study."

Extract from Hogwarts is Here Herbology, Lesson Eight

 

How does this affect herbology today?

The wizarding population is hesitant about funding the endeavours of herbologists, more so than any other academic field. The Gardening Effect has instilled the belief that herbology is a lesser area of work, and of research. Potioneers have been somewhat helpful in regards to funding, as much of the research which herbologists conduct is also directly beneficial to potioneers. Unfortunately, this financial aid is limited to research that potioneers will also gain from, and is not nearly enough. St Mungo's also donates minor amounts of money, but is strictly limited by a board of directors who fear public criticism or skepticism if they are to assist the field too much. Additionally, the field of work loses significant numbers of excellent candidates to "more respectable" fields. Those who enjoy herbology often turn to potions or healing with their knowledge, rather than pursuing a career in the field. No doubt, family pressure is a major factor, and herbologists, as a general rule, earn far less money than their counterparts in other fields, who have the same amount of education.

 

What many people fail to realise and understand, is the value and importance of herbology within our society. Without it, both the Natural World and the Wizarding World would be nowhere near the point it as it today.

 

 

Alien Species

Alien species, are species of plants introduced into new areas, often invasive types of plants, which live outside of its original habitat or geological range. Alien species can do many things to stable ecosystems, and they present many challenges to herbology, and the ecosystem itself. The effects of species such as this are constantly being discussed, by governments, herbologists, muggle farmers and scientists (scientists are muggles who conduct research to learn about the natural world. These people are usually extremely smart, and can in fact provide quite an intellectual conversation regarding some plants which are observed by muggle society).

 

 

How invasion works:

1. The seed/plant propagates into new territory

2. The plant adapts to the new environment

3. The plant "takes over" the environment, growing in numbers that may be beyond what the ecosystem can handle (some plants are able to adapt, grow wild in the habitat, and not overextend itself)

 

Hazards alien plants pose

Alien plants tend to "not fit in" within a new ecosystem. They often require more resources, and take their nutrients and water from the soil, leaving other plants dry and unable to grow and survive. After these plants spread, they can change the environment entirely, and the land may become far drier, and soil may not be able to carry as many nutrients. Through this change in the environment, flood or fire risks may increases, which poses further risks to the environment and ecosystem. It is easily possible for an invasive alien species to cause mass extinction to plants and animals when introduced into a new ecosystem.