45 



EDITORIAL. 



Tho articlo in this issue on popular iofnoranco (^oncei'iiinii- botany 

 and botanists, l)y Professor Nelson, will tind many a sy!n))ailietic reader, 

 for doubtless every lield botanist has had similar experiences. One of 

 the most lauuhable })ersonal experienees was at the sea shore, where it 

 was concluded by the onlookers that the blotting paj)er driers were used 

 in the place of bath-towelsl It seems a sad comment indeed upon our 

 nature studies in the schools an<l even the technical study in thecolleires 

 that the implements and aims of botany should be so little understood. 

 Professor Nelson's anxious fear that it may be due to the dominatinir 

 intiuence of the chase for the "mighty dollar," seems only too well 

 founded. The moment plant collecting can be shown to have a money 

 value, it attracts the imblic, l>ut collectiiiij and studvin"- for the sake of 

 pure science receives scant courtesy. We are certaiidy l)ehind 

 Kuro[)ean countries in this respect. 



A tield clul) for the study of outdoor life is always a pleasurable 

 and piolitabic institution, even when its operations are limited to occa- 

 sional excursions into the coiuitry of a few hours' duration. We learn 

 that the Philadelphia and Washington Itotanists. however, have lately 

 established club houses in the mi<lst of areas that i)i'omise pi-otitable 

 colleeting, thus enabling their members to devote more time to tield 

 work by obviating the necessity for travelling back and forth. In 

 Pliiladcl})liia the house was built and is owned by half a dozen indi\ id- 

 uals: in Washin<>ton. on the other hand, a larjjfc clul) has be(»n oriran- 

 i/ed, and a suital)le house I'ented and titted up for the nee<ls of the 

 members, each of whom has a pi'ivate key. 



We believt? that these clubs will pro\e of great value to those 

 partici|)ating in their work, since they alford (exceptional o})j)ortunitie» 

 for the most valuable kind of scientitic work, that is, actual studv of 

 the livin": organisms. 



