15 
Wild Flower Conservation 
Conservation Conference 
On May 26 a joint meeting on Wild Flower Conservation was 
held at the Laboratory Building. The cooperating societies were 
the Torrey Botanical Club, Wild Flower Preservation Society, 
American Fern Society, New York Bird and Tree Club, and the 
Federated Garden Clubs of New York State. 
Addresses were given by Mr. Raymond H. Torrey, of the New 
York Evening Post; Mr. J. Otis Swift, of the New York World, 
Dr. R. C. Benedict, of the Botanic Garden; and Mr. Henry Hicks, 
life member of the Garden and member of the Long Island Park 
Commission. 
State Conservation Laws 
As a result of the cooperation of the above mentioned societies, 
including the Botanic Garden, the Conservation Law of New 
York State has been further amended so as to make it unlawful 
wilfully to destroy Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens), Flower- 
ing Dogwood (Cornus fl-rida), Mountain Laurel (Kalmia lati- 
folia), or Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) “ growing 
on the lands of the people of the state, or in any street, highway, 
public place or park belonging to or under the control of any 
county, city, town or village.” Any person doing this “ shall be 
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.’ This act passed both houses 
of the New York State Legislature, and received the signature of 
Governor Smith, April 13, 1926, the act taking effect immediately. 
Distribution of Hart's Tongue Fern 
In our preceding report mention was made of our propagation 
(under the supervision of Dr. Benedict, resident investigator) of 
the Hart’s Tongue Fern (Scolopendrium vulgare) from spores 
obtained at Green Lake, near Syracuse, N. Y. Dr. Benedict re- 
ports as follows on the continuation of this work during 1926: 
“The program for the conservation of native plants endangered 
by industrial and park expansion, etc., has required a considerable 
amount of attention in correspondence during the year. Spore 
cultures of Hart’s Tongue Fern, started during 1925, were 
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