EDITORIAL 



The editor-in-chief of this journal, Dr. F. H. Knowlton, having 

 returned from his tour on the Pacific coast, re-assumes editorial con- 

 trol with this issue, and communications may be addressed to him as 

 heretofore, at the U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



* 



With the first issue of the new volume we extend a greeting to 

 our readers, and renew our standing invitation to everyone, young or 

 old, teacher or pupil, amateur or professional, to contribute to our 

 columns his experiences and observations in plant life. We desire 

 the widest possible good-fellowship among the members of our sub- 

 scription list, and full and free discussion is the life of any journal, 

 as it is of any organization. 





We give on another page a brief account of botanical affairs at 

 the Boston meeting of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, written by a member of the Board of Associates. 

 A description of the convention of Fern lovers from all parts of the 

 country, held on August 24th, in the same city, will be contributed 

 later by Mr. Willard N. Clute, the chairman of the convention. This 

 gathering, held under the auspices of the Linnaean Fern Chapter, 

 was something entirely unique, and proved such a success as to war- 

 rant the suggestion that it become a permanent organization, holding 

 its meetings in affiliation with the American Association, after the 

 manner of the Botanical Club. 





During the fall months, when the various edible mushrooms are 

 to be found in their perfection, there is usually a revival of general in- 

 terest in these peculiar organisms. We call attention to the article 

 by Mrs. Britton in this issue, outlining the efforts made by the Myco- 

 logical clubs of various eastern cities to promote popular acquaint- 

 ance with the seductive mushroom and the deadly toadstool. Men- 

 tion has already been made of Dr. Farlow's excellent article in the 

 year book of the Department of Agriculture for 1897, which sets 

 forth in plain and comprehensive terms the more obvious distinc- 

 tions between edible and poisonous fungi. We can only repeat the 

 warning given in these columns some time ago to the effect that all 

 persons should confine their mushroom gatherings to those species 

 with which they are absolutely familiar, no matter how temptingly 

 some of the other forms may be described by the epicure. 



