16 
THE PLANT WORLD. 
Florida, spoke of the opening up of the Homestead lands by fire 
and axe, and how rapidly some of the most interesting features 
were being destroyed. He particularly regretted the destruction 
of one of three of the sites where the royal palm is native in 
Florida, and stated that it was evident that restrictive measures 
limiting the time of year at which fires might be set were neces¬ 
sary. He also stated that of all the colonies of Sargent’s palm 
not one remained and as far as he knew, and but one solitary indi¬ 
vidual was still growing wild, in its native habitat. He advocated 
that an effort be made to save the royal palm from a similar fate. 
Mrs. Britton called attention to the Canadian laws respecting 
the administration of public lands, woods and forests, and the 
limitations as to distance and time of year at which fires may be 
made. She stated that she had received information that in the 
pine barrens of New Jersey, near Lakewood and Lakehurst, two 
health resorts where property is rapidly increasing in value, large 
and destructive fires had occurred last spring, due entirely to 
carelessness when they were started. 
Mr. Stewardson Brown stated that in the mountains of Penn¬ 
sylvania where until quite recently beautiful forests of hemlock 
grew, the lumbermen had penetrated, and following them fire, 
so that now nothing but weeds and devastation may be seen. In 
several cases the lumbermen were so careless that not only was the 
litter which they leave after them consumed, but also much of 
the timber which they had already cut, and yet no effort was made 
to prosecute or investigate the cause of the loss. He also stated 
that in Clinton County, Pa., a large tamarack swamp had re¬ 
cently been burned over, simply through carelessness. 
The question as to whether legal advice and information could 
not be secured, was answered in the affirmative, and it was de¬ 
cided to consult with Dr. J. T. Rothrock and see what measures 
for the prevention of fires could be enforced. At the suggestion 
of Dr. Ball, of the Department of Agriculture, a committee was 
appointed to draft a set of resolutions to be presented to the 
Forestry Congress at their session in Washington, July 2-5 ; this 
committee to consist of Dr. Waters, Mr. Crawford and Dr. Ball. 
Mrs. James advocated seeking the cooperation of the various 
