THE PLANT WORLD 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF POPULAR BOTANY. 



F. H. KNOWLTON, Ph.D., Editor, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



ARTIGkES ANQ NOTES ON ANY SUBJECT OF INTEREST TO PLANT-LOVERS ARE SOLICITED, AND SHOULD 



BE ADDRESSED TO THE EDITOR. 



Subscription Price, $1.00 per annum, <^ Advertising Rates upon Application. 



VILLARD N. CLUTE & CO., Publishers, - - BINGHAMTON, N. Y. 



En.ered at the post^ffice, Hinghamton, N. Y., as second-class mail matter. 

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With the current issue this journal completes the first year of its 

 existence. Arising not as the fruit of a hasty conception, but rather as 

 the gradual outgrowth of a well-considered plan, it has consistently 

 aimed to fulfill its mission satisfactorily. In comparison with other 

 countries the United States has always been deficient in botanical 

 journals of an essentially popular type ; and within the last few years 

 the development of interest in all phases of botanical study has been 

 so marked that the absence of an adequate medium for the interchange 

 of ideas had become deplorable. A year before the establishment of 

 The Plant World, a proposition was made to the Botanical Club of 

 the American Association for the Advancement of Science that a com- 

 mittee be appointed to take into consideration the project of founding 

 a journal which should become the informal organ of the Club. The 

 suggestion did not, however, meet with approval, although it was ad- 

 mitted that the necessity for some such magazine was indeed strong. 

 Those who had the project at heart, therefore, carried their idea into ef- 

 fect without aid from the Botanical Club ; and the success of The Plant 

 World in the short period that has since elapsed is shown not only by 

 our circulation, but by the list of contributors to our columns, which 

 has embraced many prominent professionals as well as amateur bota- 

 nists. An ample proof of the service performed by The Plant World 

 among plant lovers is to be found in the numerous letters of apprecia- 

 tion and encouragement received by the editors. It is not too much 

 of an assumption to say that there is no other botanical journal in the 

 country so entirely catholic in its scope, or one that offers a wider 

 field for the interchange of non-technical information and experience. 

 We do not desire to adapt The Plant World exclusively to any body 

 of students, but to make it bright, readable and interesting to every 

 observer of plant life, whether teacher or student, amateur or profes- 

 sional. 



