60 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



the aims and the results of scientific inquiry in daily use and 

 of daily necessity ; of even greater import, the scientific method 

 of thought is not a part of their mental equipment." One of 

 the reasons why the general public has not a more abiding in- 

 terest in real science is doubtless due to the fact that news- 

 paper writers have so long dealt in a fanciful brand of 

 pseudo-science that the facts seem sober and uninteresting by, 

 comparison. To overcome this idea true science needs to 

 be set forth in its best garb, but this cannot be done at present 

 for lack of sufficient support from the public. Should the 

 Carnagie Corporation decide to aid this magazine in popular- 

 izing botanical science our readers may expect something 

 commensurate with the treatment the subject deserves. 

 Meanwhile we shall "go it alone" to the best of our ability. 

 But if we notice the Carnagie Corporation looking this way 

 we shall certainly wig-wag the sign of distress. 



BOOKS AND WRITERS. 



The Country Gentlemen of Albany, N. Y. which for more 

 than four score years has been conducted by the members of 

 a single family, father, son and grandson, has passed into the 

 control of the Curtis Publishing Company of Philadelphia. 



A new publication known as Pomona College Journal 

 of Economic Botany, and devoted to sub-tropical horticulture 

 has made its appearance. Its editor is Prof. C. F. Baker 

 whose experience as an official of a Brazilian botanical garden, 

 supplemented by much plant collecting in tropical regions, 

 renders peculiarly fitted for the position. The magazine 

 is well illustrated and is issued quarterly at $1.00 a year. 

 The great interest that is now attached to tropical agriculture 

 and horticulture ensures that the new journal will have a 

 wide circulation. 



