168 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:4— April, 1916 



day thereafter until winter calls a halt, new additions are being 

 made to this wealth of flowering plants, and to this unrivaled flora 

 as a whole. This is true even of the near vicinity of almost any 

 of the large cities in the part of the country designated — a great 

 metropolis, such as New York City, for example, forming no 

 exception to the rule. 



For a number of years past, my studies along the lines defined 

 above, have been, for the most part, confined to certain restricted 

 areas in southern Maryland; to similar kinds of country in 

 northern Virginia, and to the wild, unsettled parts of the District 

 of Columbia. There is a superb flora throughout this area, flour- 

 ishing, as a rule, from about the latter part of March until frost 

 cuts it short in November; even then, dandelions will sometimes 

 crop out in January in favored places. It was through the above 

 sections of the country that I obtained the results reproduced in the 

 present article. 



All through the vernal season many people, representing 

 various classes, go into the woods, and for various reasons and pur- 

 poses. Picnicing parties, ranging all the way from five or six 

 people to a hundred and fifty and more, resort there continually, 

 until the cold season prevents such excursions entirely. As a 

 general thing, the majority of those forming such parties care not 

 a straw for wild flowers, and the consequence is that many of these 

 are destroyed all around the locality where their picnic is held. 

 Then there are absolutely scores of others who are rural vandals — 

 their love for flowers is but a mere veneer ; and when they go into 

 the country to gather them, there is no end to their pillaging.' 

 Without rhyme or reason, large armfuls are plucked in an almost 

 aimless fashion, only to be thrown down by the wayside as they 

 near the suburban car-line that carries them homeward. This is 

 the class which has succeeded in exterminating many of our most 

 beautiful flowers that formerly grew in abundance up to the very 

 line of the city limits. Trailing arbutus, wild violets, and similar 

 plants, have all suffered severely at the hands of such people, who, 

 as I say , are not satisfied with merely plucking even more than they 

 need, but who tear up the plants by the roots — very often only to 

 throw them away a few moments later. 



Again, I have met vvith some who stroll through the woods and 

 fields simply for the exercise and change there may be in it for 

 them. After their walks, persons of this kind cannot, sometimes, 



