117 
We traveled to Havana on April 1, and spent the following 
day partly on the north coast at Cojimar, where interesting shrubs 
and cacti were found in the coastal thickets, including a prickly- 
ash (Zanthoxylum) especially desired by Mr. Wilson for his study 
of that group for ‘North American Flora,’’ and partly in the 
palm-barren east of Guanabacoa, which, being extensively pas- 
ture-land, did not yield much of particular interest. We sailed 
from Havana, April 3, on steamer ‘‘Saratoga’’ and arrived at 
the Garden, April 6. 
The collections of plants made during the trip embrace in all 
1,771 field numbers, aggregating not fewer than 4,000 specimens. 
This satisfactory result is due to the perfect weather experienced 
throughout, to the help and coéperation of Mr. Earle, and to 
the fluent command of the Spanish language possessed by the 
sefiora americana, which aided us on land and sea 
Respectfully submitted, 
N BRITTON, 
Director-in- Chief. 
PRESERVATION OF WILD FLOWERS.* 
The few haunts of natural beauty in and about our city are 
fast becoming destitute of those innocent little plants, which, 
by their simplicity and loveliness, add charm to those cherished 
spots. It has been observed that during the past ten years, 
a great number of wild flowers have disappeared, several species 
having been completely exterminated, among which are the 
arbutus and the mountain laurel. 
t is needless to state that those desirous of preserving our 
public grounds, and all who are interested in botany, are greatly 
alarmed at these results. Means have been taken to prevent 
the destruction of our native plants. Societies have been 
formed for the purpose, but these can effect comparatively little 
without the help of the community. 
warded a second prize, April, 1909, from the Caroline and Olivia E. Stokes 
Fund for the Preservation of Native Plants. 
