152 THE PLANT WOKLD 



tures. Cultivation and drainage will exterminate them. The adder's- 

 tongue is still abundant in this region ; its corm grows deep in the 

 ground, and is seldom collected. Draining and grading have extermi- 

 nated it at many stations. The star-of-Bethlehem is deserving of 

 cultivation, as it is very beautiful, and it spreads on waste grassy banks. 

 Lilies-of-the-valley also should be planted in shady places. Trilliums 

 have thick, fleshy roots, and are still fairly abundant in this region. 



/m Family. — The blue-flags grow in wet places, have thick root- 

 stocks, and the flowers wither quickly, so that their extermination is not 

 imminent, but they are worthy of cultivation in swampy places. 



Orchid Family. — All our orchids are becoming rare, and are eagerly 

 sought for by those who know them. The moccasin flower has neither 

 bulb nor rootstock to protect it, and private owners will have to guard 

 it from depredation, and study how to increase its numbers. The same 

 is true of the yellow and white ladies' slipper, and the home of 

 reginae should be guarded like that of the queen-bee. The fringed 

 orchids, white, yellow, orange and purple, still survive in wet meadows 

 on mountain and sea-shore ; their best protection seems to be mud and 

 mosquitoes, but the growth of seaside resorts and the drainage of waste 

 lands in this vicinity are fast exterminating them from swamps where 

 they were formerly abundant. Pogonia, Aretlmsa and Calopogon still 

 survive in a few places, and only by private protection will they remain 

 abundant. South and Midland Beach resorts have destroyed that 

 station on Staten Island, and the Meadow Brook colony, on Long Island, 

 threatens destruction to Aretlmsa. 



All discussion of trees and forestry questions are omitted from this 

 paper. Willows might be planted in one of the public parks of the city 

 in order to supply the school children with "pussy willows." The 

 teachers have asked us repeatedly to do so. 



Purslane Family.- — Spring-beauty is still abundant in our parks 

 and suburbs, and fills bare muddy banks of the Bronx in spring with 

 its lovely pink and white blossoms; it is protected by a tuberous root, deep 

 in the ground, and its numerous seeds. It has some of the vitality of 



the " pussley " 



Pink Family. — Wild pinks bloom from Monday to Friday on rocky 

 hill sides in Bronx Park, and disappear on Saturdays and Sundays in 

 spring. They reappear the next year, protected by large, fleshj^ roots, 

 but they cannot reproduce from seed, and will gradually grow weaker 

 and fewer. They still survive in abundance on Staten Island and in 

 Westchester County and should be guarded by private owners. 



Water-lily Family. — Water-lilies held their own fairly well until the 

 streams are polluted by sewage, and the ponds drained; they are protec- 



