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would have been nearly or quite an extinct species by this time 
if measures had not been taken to preserve it. 
In these two cases the conditions are so similar to those that 
have obtained in the case of game birds and other inoffensive 
wild animals that it seems certain that similar remedies will pro- 
duce similar desirable results. In other words, our societies for 
the preservation of native wild flowers should exert their energies 
to secure the enactment of stringent laws for the protection of 
such plants as stand in need of it in their localities. The sale of 
flowers like the trailing arbutus should be stopped and the col- 
lection of plants like the climbing fern should be absolutely pro- 
hibited, except by the accredited agents of scientific institutions. 
It will take time to educate public sentiment until it will secure 
adequate enforcement of such laws, just as it has taken time to 
educate public sentiment up to the point of enforcing the laws 
for the protection of game and song birds, but the sooner the 
agitation is begun, the sooner will the desired results be obtained. 
For public opinion follows, not leads in such matters. The need 
for action is the more urgent from the fact that it will soon be 
too late to save some of our most beautiful plants from extinc- 
tion in settled localities, the very place where they will do the 
most good. 
The cutting of forest and the reclaiming of swamp and moor 
areas presents an entirely different problem, which must be met 
in a different way. Where the land is sufficiently valuable to pay 
for the reclaiming: of it for agricultural or building purposes, little 
can be done, except by the incorporation of such areas into public 
parks where they are situated near enough to cities to warrant it. 
Even then the landscape gardener will very likely improve (?) the 
native plants out of existence. Forest Park in Brooklyn and 
Van Cortlandt and Bronx Parks in the Borough of the Bronx, 
New York City, have been conspicuous examples of beauty of 
nature unadorned by art. 
To the writer a trip to Van Cortlandt Park is productive of a 
pleasure that the glories of Central Park can never even approxi- 
mate. One of the greatest attractions at the Botanical Gardens 
in Bronx Park is due to the intelligent preservation and care of 
