THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. SB 



readers are enough interested to set us right when incor- 

 rect, for which we are ver^- grateful. We trust the watch- 

 fulness will be continued. We might add to what has 

 been said above (after having carefully looked up the sub- 

 ject!) that the saffron crocus is one of the autumn flower- 

 ing species and was once extensively^ cultivated in Eng- 

 land. It is said that the inhabitants of localities where 

 the crocus was grown were often known as**crokers,"and 

 thus arose a well known English surname. 



Cop3^ for the indexes to this magazine is in the hands 

 of the printer with the prospects of an early appearance, 

 Aleanwhile wc have issued an abridged index to the first 

 six volumes, in which the titles arc arranged under various 

 subject headings such as nectar, odor, color, pollination, 

 €tc. This was issued merely for advertising purposes but 

 readers of this magazine may care to have a copy. It is 



free for the asking. 



* * 



* 



It is our custom to send material for our Note and 

 Comment department to the printer as fast as received, 

 allowing him considerable latitude in making up the 

 pages. To this fact, no doubt, is due the duplication of a 

 note on the calibage in the July issue. Evidently the 

 printer has a fondness for this vegetable! 



BOOKS AND WRITERS. 



"New England Ferns and Their Common Allies" is not 

 a re-issue of Dodge's well known work, but is a new 

 volume designed for the beginner, written by Helen East- 

 inan. It pays special attention to the characters that 

 distinguish the species, and when these are much alike, the 

 characters that are important in separating each are 

 italicised. Photographic illustrations of fronds, tips of 

 fronds or pinna? of the species discussed are given, and in 

 most cases these are sufficient for the identification of 

 one's plants though by no means fulW illustrating the 

 species. In addition to a description of the species found 



