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discriminately-plucked blossoms are almost as quickly discarded, 
because they incontinently wilt and die almost before they can 
be carried from the cool recesses of their native woods? 
e parks, valuable as they are as breathing ae only par- 
tially satisfy this flower hunger, because in them the child may 
admire but must not pick, nor even handle, bud or Hae leaf 
or fruit; almost as great a restriction as the glass windows of the 
florists’ shops in the heart of the great city, through which they 
peer longingly at the fragrant treasures so far beyond their reach. 
where the wild flowers are treasured beyond the showiest of hy- 
brids, have felt the destructive effects of this craving for flowers 
to a marked degree. Warning signs are displayed, but have lit- 
tle effect, and the predominating excuse of older offenders: ‘I 
didn’t think it any harm to pick a few wild flowers, 
little promise of greater discretion on the part of children 
e confessed that the Director-in-Chief of the Botan- 
ical Garden has thus far not had the heart to attempt to enforce 
punishment upon the youthful offenders for satisfying a heart 
hunger so apparent. I certainly can offer no suggestion as to 
its cure although to even remedy it would in to accomplish much 
in the preservation of the wild flowers. I only know that it 
would require a fortune in a city of a million and a half of inhab- 
itants, and executive ability of rare character to satisfy it. 
Again I have only told of conditions in the a that others 
may be able to suggest means to meet the ev ost 
effectual way to discourage traffic in wild flowers Zz eta lies 
in the refusal of their friends to purchase them ; but this was long 
since recognized and is being urged at every opportunity. 
In conclusion let me suggest that if ever the time recurs when 
the now over-filled hours of the New York school teacher admit 
of leisure for those semi-social chats with the scholars which 
once gave opportunity for the inculcation of much valuable knowl- 
edge not mentioned in the curriculum, it might aid the cause of 
the wild flowers materially to tell the scholars of the widespread 
good accomplished by judicious use of the income of the Phelps 
Stokes fund. 
