56 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



tion. In such places a campaign of dissuasion, only, seems 

 likely to result in little permanent good. To preserve the 

 plants here, certain enclosed areas in which flower picking of 

 any kind is strictly prohibited must be provided and wild 

 plants elsewhere threatened with extinction must be trans- 

 planted into such presei'ved spaces. In no other way can we be 

 assured that the plants will be properly protected. Fortunately 

 most cities and towns possess parks of sufficient area to make 

 possible the setting aside of small plots for this purpose and all 

 that now seems needed is an organization to take charge of the 

 work and bring it to the attention of the proper authorities. 

 At present there is being formed under the direction of Frank 

 C. Pellett, of Atlantic, Iowa, a society that seems likely to carry 

 out this plan. The new society aims especially at securing 

 grounds in public parks and in other places where the wild- 

 flowers of the region may receive adequate protection. The 

 society is to be organized by states with a vice president and 

 secretary in each and seems designed along lines that will ac- 

 complish the end in view. All persons interested in this most 

 worthy object should send in their names to Mr. Pellett. The 

 dues are nominal and only large enough to cover the postage 

 on communications sent out. 



WiLD-FLOWER DESTRUCTION. — In the more arable parts 

 of our country, especially in the Middle West and North-west, 

 the land is becoming so valuable for farm crops and is so ex- 

 tensively cultivated that very little of the native flora is left. 

 In many regions of considerable size the only places in which 

 a few prairie plants still linger are along the remote roadsides 

 and railways. In Illinois the farmers of some sections are ad- 

 vocating narrowing the width of the roads to allow them to 

 use the present roadsides for growing corn. In many places, 

 too, squatters of one kind or another are cultivating crops on 

 the strip of land between the railroad tracks and the fences 

 that bound the right of way. Thus, the plants seem likely to 

 soon be eradicated from the last refuge left to them. It is a 



