61 



EDITORIAL. 



By the time this number reaches our readers there will be many 

 evidences of the return of spring, and we take this^occasion to urge the 

 keeping of note-books, wherein are to be recorded items of botanical 

 interest, such as unusual situations or dates of flowering, malforma- 

 tions, extensions of range for rare species, etc. We shall be glad 

 to publish notes of this character at any time. 



It is proverbial that reforms come slowly, a condition which is 

 particularly true regarding forest protection in this country, and yet 

 there are gratifying indications that there is more or less of an awaken- 

 ing along these lines. Up to the present time thirty-six forest reserves 

 have been made embi'acing i6, 021,849 acres. These have been selected 

 not only with the view of preserving the forests about the head waters 

 of important streams, but also of preserving natural scenery, such as 

 the Yosemite in California, the Hot Springs and geysers in the Yellow- 

 stone Park, the glacier-capped Mt. Shasta, etc. A number of states, 

 notably Pennsylvania and New York, are as fast as possible acquiring 

 possession of depleted or worn-out forest areas in these states, with the 

 view to holding them until they can be reforested. Under intelligent 

 management this reforesting is perfectly practicable, and the next 

 generation will have occasion to thank the present generation for their 

 wisdom and foresight. The forests used to be regarded as illimitable, 

 but increased demands, coupled with the destruction of vast areas by 

 fire, have so reduced the supply that it can only be a comparatively 

 few years before very active steps will have to be taken to restore the 

 forests or devise a substitute for lumber. It would seem that this 

 matter has been so thoroughly brought to the attention of the people 

 that it will not be necessary to actually destroy the forests before 

 steps are taken for their preservation. We trust that all readers of 

 The Plant Wokld will use their best effort to stay this wanton de- 

 struction. 



