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danger of extinction I take occasion to say that its destruction in 
the comparatively small area of the region capable of irrigation is 
of.comparatively little importance when it considered that it is 
found over many hundreds of square miles and on steep and al- 
most inaccessible mountain slopes. Its safety is further insured 
by the fact that it has no commercial importance and finds but 
little use by the Indians, who take the woody framework of dead 
trees for building huts. 
After leaving Tucson two days were spent at Austin, Texas. 
Several Cacti were added to the material already secured as well 
as many shrubs and bulbs. Iam indebted to Professor W. L. 
Bray for his guidance and assistance in making these collections, 
which his knowledge of the local flora greatly facilitated. 
Respectfully submitted, 
D. T. MacDovuaat. 
HOW SHALL OUR WILD FLOWERS BE 
PRESERVED? * 
The problem of the preservation of our wild flowers is most 
acute in the vicinity of our towns and cities, for it is here that 
flowers suffer most from indiscriminate gathering. 
In rural localities there are at least three situations or condi- 
tions that demand attention. The gathering of some particularly 
attractive wild flower for city markets ; the search for some rare 
and local plant and its excessive collection because of its very 
rarity ; and the clearing of forest areas or the draining and clear- 
ing of swamps for economic reasons so changing the conditions 
that very many of the native plants are unable to exist. 
The almost complete extinction of the trailing arbutus in 
many localities where it was formerly abundant furnishes too 
good an illustration of the damage done by the collecting of at- 
tractive wild flowers for the city markets. 
The danger of rarities from over-enthusiastic adinirers is well 
illustrated by the case of the climbing fern (Lygodium) which 
’  * Awarded the third prize of twenty dollars, competition of 1902, from the Caro- 
line and Olivia Phelps Stokes Fund for the Preservation of Native Plants. 
