230 THE PLANT WOKLD 



BRIEFER ARTICLES. 



The Preservation of Native Plants. 



The thoughtless and indiscriminate picking of flowers and break- 

 ing of twigs or branches from wild plants is an offence perpetrated by 

 many persons who ought to know better. Every effort to educate peo- 

 ple to realize that plants wliich are thus picked or broken can not be 

 enjoyed by others who follow them, is a distinct aid in diminishing 

 selfishness and in developing the more healthy taste to preserve natural 

 objects rather than to deface or destroy them. In the vicinity of many 

 of our cities and towns, wild flowers, once common, have become rare 

 by such vandalism, so that the healthful pleasure and interest of wood- 

 land walks have become much less enjoyable. 



In order that the desirability of preserving native species in their 

 full beauty shall be continuously brought to the public attention, the 

 Misses Olivia and Caroline Phelps Stokes presented to the Board of 

 Managers of the New York Botanical Garden, under date of August 29, 

 1901, the sum of $3,000, on condition that the interest of this fund 

 should always be used for the investigation and preservation of native 

 plants, or for bringing the need for such preservation before the public. 



At a meeting of the Board of Managers held October 23, 1901, the 

 following resolution was adopted: 



Resolved, That the gift of $3,000 from Olivia and Caroline Phelps 

 Stokes, for the investigation and preservation of our native plants, be 

 and is hereby gratefully accepted, under the conditions of the letter of 

 Miss Olivia E. Phelps Stokes to Professor N, L. Britton, dated August 

 29, 1901. 



At the same meeting it was referred to the Scientific Directors, with 

 power, to determine ui)on a method for the expenditure of the annual 

 interest upon the fund, and at a meeting of the Scientific Directors held 

 December 6, 1901, the following resolutions were adopted, they having 

 previously been submitted to the Misses Stokes, who made some valu- 

 able suggestions concerning the details: 



Resolved, That this gift be known as the Olivia and Caroline Phelps 

 Stokes Fund for the Protection of Native Plants. 



Resolved, That the annual income from the Stokes Fund be at 

 present applied to the payment of prizes for essays upon the preserva- 



