148 
Here, especially on Sundays and holidays, the people flock in 
multitudes ; the Lower East Side comes ex masse and pours in 
an almost continuous stream through the entrance at the ter- 
minal station of the Third Avenue Elevated Railway. All are 
welcome to whatever the Botanical Garden offers in the way of 
education, of beauty, of sunshine and fresh air. But unfortu- 
nately where so much is offered, still more is taken, and the pro- 
tection of the plants, particularly of the flowering shrubs and 
wild flowers, has become a complicated and difficult matter. If 
every jack-in-the-pulpit must have his own personal guard in the 
form of a carotene it is safe to assume that Jack’s congregation 
will be a limited o 
With the hope a gaining some knowledge that might be of 
service in the solution of this problem which is far more com- 
plex than appears upon the face of it, I undertook the investiga- 
tion here reported. With a humble heart, an open mind, and a 
small note-book, I fared forth into the Garden, and went about 
among the people to collect facts and information. These facts 
are so many side-lights upon the situation. From my note-book, 
I have selected such a list as is warranted by the limitations of 
this paper. One could easily fill a quarto volume with similar 
items. The selection has been made with a view to present such 
facts as may be suggestive to the reader by throwing light upon 
various phases of the question. 
1. Twenty roots of Solomon’s seal showing from one to fifteen 
scars were taken from one person by the guard at the exit. 
2. Two little girls had their lunch-boxes filled with violets 
taken up by the roots; they wanted to plant them in a box at 
ome and see if they would grow. 
3. Within the limits of one hour, I saw three persons in as 
many different parties carrying ferns that had been taken up by 
the roots; they said they were going to n pot: 
4. Three little girls had a wild-rose Bick iy oe up by 
the roots and wrapped in paper. They didn’t know they couldn’t 
take things that were wild; other people were getting things; 
and they did so want to take the rose-bush home and set it out 
in a pot. 
