EDITORIAL 



^ G 



Some time ago, a contributor to this magazine submitted 

 an article with the request that if not available, the editor 

 would indicate the kind of articles that would be so. Possibly 

 there are others among our readers interested in the editor's 

 opinion of a readable article, and while it would be impossible 

 to give directions by which anyone could write a good article 

 on any subject, we purpose here to indicate a few of the funda- 

 mental rules. There is only one kind of an article that will 

 be accepted by an editor without regard to the way it is 

 written and that is the one that makes a direct contribution to 

 science. There are not a few scientists who by reason of 

 having articles of the kind accepted, have imagined themselves 

 to be accomplished writers until they have tried to sell an 

 article designed for a more popular audience. To interest 

 such an audience one must be more than a scientist ; he must 



be a good story-teller as well. 



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That part of the public that has an interest in plants, 



much prefers a thrilling tale of the marvellous things reputed 



to abound in the unexplored regions of distant lands to the 



plain uncolored statements of the scientist about his favorites. 



The real botanists of this country have before them the task of 



educating the people away from the untruthful statements of 



"newspaper science," and up to a proper appreciation of the 



beauty and wonder in even our common species. To do this 



we must mix the things that take hold on life with our science. 



Abstract science has no charms for the novice. "What is it 



good for?" is likely to be his first question, and "will anybody 



buy it?" follows close after. 



* * * 



The beginner who would like to see his writings in print 

 will do well to select the nearest plant that interests him and 



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