—55— 



sippi and Louisiana. Bull, Torr. Club, xxviii. 1901, pp. 61-101. — 

 Mary A. Day, Gray Herbarium, Cambridge, Mass. 



[The list of works given in the "Fern Flora of Louisiana" 

 was meant to bear especially on the ferns, but we are glad to have 

 these additional citations of lists that in most cases cover the 

 flowering plants as well as the ferns. In this connection it may 

 be said that we hope the authors of the various fern floras will 

 assist us in keeping them up to date, both as regards published 

 articles on the subject and the discovery of additional species. It 

 is planned to publish a list of additions from time to time as ma- 

 terial accumulates. Already we have two or more species to be 

 added to some of the floras published.— Ed.] 



DESTROYING THE FERNS. 



Those who patronize the florists have no doubt been im- 

 pressed with the important part ferns play in the make-up of 

 bouquets and other decorations, and have perhaps imagined that 

 the fern fronds were grown in the greenhouses with the flowers. 

 Such, however, is not the case. The thrifty cultivator uses all 

 his space for flowers and depends upon Nature for his ferns. 

 Orchids, carnations and roses must be grown under glass, but 

 the hillsides of the northern States are covered with ferns, that, 

 up to the present, could be had for the gathering. This has re- 

 sulted in the development of an extensive traffic in fronds of 

 our native ferns, which is beginning to threaten their existence in 

 the regions from which the supply comes. 



To prevent the total extinction of the ferns in the Berkshires 

 a measure has been introduced into the Massachusetts Legisla- 

 ture requiring that each fern-gatherer in that State have a license 

 and making other regulations for restricting the collecting. This, 

 of course, has aroused the strong opposition of the dealers. From 

 the Pittsfield Evening Journal of January 20, we take the fol- 

 lowing which sets forth the collector's side of the case : 



"Hinsdale is aroused over the bill that Representative Allen 

 T. Treadway, of Stockbridge, has introduced into the House of 

 Representatives relating to the fern industry in this country. If 

 this bill passes the House the industry will be killed in Berkshire 

 so say the dealers and they are going to put up a stiff fight to de- 



