1 897-] Botanical Report. 35 



Spiraea by 71, and Lonicera by 84, All the plants and trees in 

 the arboretun:! and botanic garden are planted in duplicate, and 

 records are kept of the time of planting, the SDurce from whence 

 derived and how they have fared from year to year. Visitors 

 are cordially invited to visit the gardens, and Mr. Macoun will 

 be glad to give any information concerning the plants in his 

 charge. 



An interesting botanical fact brought to the notice of 

 the leaders during the past summer by Mr. H. B. Small was the 

 value of the tubers of the Marsh Wound-wort {Stackys palustris) 

 as a vegetable ; these have been tried and found excellent, 

 equalling in size and quality the cultivated StacJiys affinis from 

 Japan now cultivated to some extent in the gardens of the 

 curious. S. palustris is found in abundance in Manitoba. 

 PRESERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL WILD FLOWERS. 



The leaders of the Botanical Branch wish to direct attention 

 to a somewhat important feature bearing upon the preservation 

 of the flora of our fields and swamps. It is this, many 

 species of the more beautiful and showy native flowers, notably 

 orchids, are becoming somewhat scarce in the immediate vicinity 

 of Ottawa, owing to the depredations of mere pot-hunting botan- 

 ists. We can sympathise with those who have a genuine desire 

 to introduce into their gardens the best types of our most orna- 

 mental wild flowers, but view with much disfavour the indis- 

 criminate distruction of beautiful wild plants by pseudo-botanists 

 and other people who are seized with a momentary desire to 

 cultivate these flowers in their own gardens, but who fail, after 

 uprooting the plants, to carry their good intentions into effect. 

 Cypridpediuni pubescens has become almost extinct in this 

 locality. C. acaule is not to be found in Dows' swamp, where it 

 was formerly abundant, and we might mention many other 

 examples equally deplorable. 



REGIONS NOT WELL EXPLORED. 



We would draw the attention of the members of the Club 

 to the fact that on account of transportation facilities our excur- 



