JOURNAL 
The New York Botanical Garden 
Vou. III oe . _ January, 1902. a No. 25. 25. 
THE PRESERVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS. 
The thoughtless and indiscriminate picking of flowers and 
breaking of twigs or branches from wild plants is an offence per- 
petrated by many persons who ought to know better. Every 
effort to educate people to realize that plants which are thus 
picked or broken can not be enjoyed by others who follow them, 
is a distinct aid in diminishing selfishness and in developing the 
more healthy taste to preserve natural objects rather than to deface 
ordestroy them. Inthe vicinity of many of our cities and towns, 
wild flowers, once common, have become rare by such vandalism, 
so that the healthful pleasure and interest of woodland walks 
have become much less enjoyable. 
In order that the desirability of preserving native species in 
their full beauty shall be continuously brought to the public 
attention, the Misses Olivia and Caroline Phelps Stokes presented 
to the Board of Managers of the New York Botanical Garden, 
under date of August 29, 1901, the sum of $3,000, on condition 
that the interest of this fund should always be used for the inves- 
tigation and preservation of native plants or for bringing the need 
for such preservation before the public. 
At a meeting of the Board of Managers held October 23, 1901, 
the following resolution was adopted : 
Resolued, That the gift of $3,000 from Olivia and Caroline 
Phelps Stokes, for the investigation and preservation of our native 
plants, be and is hereby gratefully accepted, under the conditions 
of the letter of Miss Olivia E. oe Stokes to Professor N. L. 
Britton, dated August 29, I 
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