THE PLANT WORI.D 303 



ment of any particular school of botany, but will be as broad in its scope 

 as the broadest conception of the vegetable kingdom. * * * 



" The plan for a journal of this character was formulated by the editor 

 in 1895, and an outline presented before the Botanical Club of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science at the Buffalo meeting. 

 It was not deemed expedient for the Club to adopt an official organ, and 

 maturer judgment has approved the wisdom of this course, both from the 

 standpoint of the Club and of the journal, therefore, as indicated above, 

 the journal will be thoroughly independent." 



The PIvAnt World passed through its first two volumes under the 

 above management. Dr. Knowlton then desired to bring the business 

 department more closely under his supervision, and the partnership 

 with Mr. Clute was dissolved by mutual consent, leaving the latter free 

 to devote his attention to the Fern Bulletin, which had expanded in size 

 and circulation. A new partnership was formed between Dr. Knowlton, 

 Dr. Theodore Gill, of Washington, and the writer, under the name of The 

 Plant World Company. The first issue of Volume III was published in 

 January, 1900, in order to conform to the calendar year. The size was 

 increased by four pages, and by the addition of a monthly eight-page 

 supplement devoted to a synoptical account of the families of flowering 

 plants. In June, 1900, Dr. Gill withdrew from the Company, which 

 then passed into the control of the writer. Dr. Knowlton remained as 

 editor-in-chief with the writer as associate. At the beginning of the 

 fourth volume, in January, 1901, the property, subscription list and good 

 will of The Asa Gray Bulletin was acquired by arrangement with 

 the owners of that periodical, which was thereupon merged in The 

 Plant World. Upon the untimely death of Mr. Thomas A. Williams, 

 editor of the Bulletin, Mr, C. Iv. Shear was admitted to the editorial 

 board of The Plant World, which continued under this management 

 through the fourth, fifth, and sixth volumes. This period was marked 

 by a remarkable growth of the circulation, influence and scope of the 

 magazine, which in May, 1902, after the organization of the Wild Flower 

 Preservation Society of America, became the ofl&cial organ of the latter. 

 In January, 1904, Dr. Knowlton being forced by ill health and pressure 

 of other duties to retire from the active editorial management, the board 

 was again reorganized under the leadership of the writer, and increased by 

 the addition of Professor Francis E. Ivloyd and Professor E. I^. Morris. 

 The outstanding indebtedness was cancelled, and the magazine has 

 passed through a fairly successful year in spite of the necessary increase 

 in the subscription price. 



And now another chapter in the story of the magazine is about to 

 open. Professor Lloyd acquires by purchase absolute control of The 

 Plant World's future, and will combine both the editorial and business 

 management. He will be assisted by a board of associates of whom the 



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