18 THE PLANT WORLD 



Editorial. 



With the present number The Plant World enters upon its 

 fifth volume and the sixth year of its existence, which may be taken as 

 a demonstration of the fact that it fills a distinct need and has come to 

 stay. We have been especially gratified by the many cordial words we 

 have received from our friends and patrons. Our subscription list has 

 increased gratifyingly, and only eleven subscribers have discontinued 

 their subscriptions during the year. It is not meant to imply by this 

 that our subscription list has reached the point we would wish, for an 

 increased support will find expression in an increased size of the jour- 

 nal. We already contemplate the addition of four ijages at an early day, 

 and can promise that further increases in size will follow the moment 

 circumstances warrant. 



Volume five will be in every way superior to the earlier volumes. 

 Among the good things will be a series of papers on American Botanical 

 Gardens, the first of which appears in the present number, occasional 

 articles on the origin of cultivated plants, accounts of some of the earlier 

 botanists, and the usual number of original articles on a great variety of 

 topics. 



It is also the intention to illustrate the present volume more fully, 

 and to this end we have secured some of the finest photographs that 

 have ever been taken, showing tropical vegetation, groups of native 

 plants, etc. The chapters on the Families of Flowering Plants will be 

 pushed to a conclusion, if possible, during the year. As before, they 

 will be very fully illustrated, and when complete will form a concise 

 description of all the families of this great group. 



We regret exceedingly the delay in issuing the present number. It 

 is occasioned by changing printers, and we trust will not occur again. 



The table of contents and index for Vol. IV will be sent out with the 

 February number, as sending it with the present issue would have 

 necessitated still further delay. 



