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The destruction of wild flowers not only takes place while 

 they are in bloom but there is another cause which is even worse 

 than picking and that is fire. In early spring, March and April, 

 when the woods are dry and high winds prevail, a match thrown 

 carelessly among the dry leaves will start a fire which soon at- 

 tains serious proportions and is often difficult to conquer, so that 

 in a short time nothing remains but charred stems and scorched 

 earth from which weeds only can derive sustenance. Fires often 

 result, in the New York Botanical Garden, from the carelessness of 

 smokers, and they always start near the paths. 



The same selfish disregard of consequences impels picnic 

 parties to come and scatter unsightly papers, boxes and broken 

 glass, in spite of the fact that according to the city ordinances 

 they are guilty of a misdemeanor and liable for each offence to 

 a fine of from one to five dollars. 



These evils are due to thoughtlessness and selfishness; now let 

 us see what fashion is doing. In the July number of the House 

 Beautiful occurs the following paragraph : 



"The rarest flower in Europe, the edelweiss, is becoming 

 scarcer every year, and unless measures are taken to prevent in- 

 discriminate gathering it is likely to disappear altogether. The 

 edelweiss only grows 2,500 or 3,000 yards above the level of 

 the sea and under special climatic conditions. Unfortunately, the 

 edelweiss has become the ' fashionable ' flower in Germany since 

 the Emperor commenced wearing it." 



The truth of the matter is that for commercial purposes, the 

 wild supply of edelweiss has long been insufficient and for many 

 years it has been impossible to gather it "indiscriminately," for it 

 is only to be found in the most inaccessible places. But it has 

 long been cultivated for sale to tourists and makers of souvenirs. 

 In fact, the edelweiss is not difficult to grow in suitable localities, 

 and even in unsuitable ones for it, such as the New York Botanical 

 Garden, it has grown and blossomed for two years in succession, 

 in one of the Composite beds of the Herbaceous Grounds, next 

 to its North American allies, the everlastings and cudweeds. 

 The living plants were obtained from the Buffalo Botanical Gar- 

 den, where it has also been grown, but a succession of hot, dry 

 summers has killed it. In the shaded and moist rock-garden 

 yet to be built it may probably be made to live. 



