THE PLANT WOKLD 37 



EDITORIAL. 



Tlie widespread development of popular interest in the study of 

 plants and plant life during the past few years, is evidenced by the 

 mushroom-like growth of numerous periodicals devoted more or less to 

 the subject of botany. Many of the universities, academies and sci- 

 entific societies now have their own organs, while the Torrey Botanical 

 Club, one of the oldest and strongest organizations of its kind in the 

 country, has recently started the publication of Torreya, a twelve- 

 page monthly devoted to notes and short articles of a less technical 

 nature than the papers appearing in the Bullefin or the Memoirs. The 

 prosperous journal of the New England Botanical Club, Rhodora, has 

 just completed its second year; and the past summer has witnessed the 

 revival of that entertaining product of the Pacific coast known as Zoe. 

 A Pennslyvania botanist has commemorated the name of Muhlenberg 

 in 3Iuhlenbergia, which is to appear at irregular intervals, whenever 

 suitable matter shall be at hand. We believe, however, that New Jer- 

 sey has carried off the palm for journalistic nomenclature in the shape 

 of a monthly published at Plainfield, devoted exclusively^ to popular 

 botany, and rejoicing in the title " The Gamophyllous." This singular 

 appellation led to a curious error in the final issue of the Asa Gray 

 Bulletin, where the name is jjrinted "The Gamophy lions." 



We consider competition an excellent thing, and doubtless many 

 of these publications, particularly those of the amateur type, perform a 

 distinct service in keeping alive the flame of interest in nature study. 

 Yet it must be admitted that through consolidation of several small 

 journals into one large one, it becomes possible to serve the reading 

 public with better articles, more reading matter, and superior illustra- 

 tions for the same price, and greatly simplifies the work of the student 

 who is compelled to examine the bulk of current scientific literature. 

 There should always be a well-grounded reason and a manifest need 

 for the establishment of a new periodical before it is launched on the 

 stormy seas of journalistic enterprise. 



