158 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



wonderfully like some of the statements these same experts 

 have made regarding the barberry. That they are sometimes 

 unable to distinguish the shrub they rave about was proved to 

 us last spring when we found some of the harmless Japanese 

 barberry in our grounds ticketed with their anathemas 



against its horrendous cousin. 



* * * 



The letter-head of the United States Geological Survey 

 carries a line at the top which says, "If the Geological Survey 

 has served you, it has simply done its duty and will take your 

 appreciation for granted." This way of looking at a public 

 office is highly gratifying in a day when even some branches 

 of the Government service seems bent on charging all that the 

 traffic will bear. The Department of Agriculture, for in- 

 stance, is supposed to look after our agricultural interests, 

 but it places a price on its publications that seem to us (uit of 

 all proportion to their cost. Other publishers are glad to 

 supply the public press with books for review when this will 

 aid in spreading a knowledge of what they contain, but not 

 so the Department of Agriculture. If you want some dinky 

 little pamphlet from this department you must send ten or 

 fifteen cents, "stamps not taken." "If the Geological Survey 

 has served you it has simply done its duty." Sounds good to 

 us. May the sentiment spread to other departments! 



* * * 



Referring to the naive bits of natural history printed in 

 this department from time to time, Mr. George L. Moxley of 

 Los Angeles writes ; "Your note recalls to rhy mind a placard 

 I noticed once in this city on a very choice plant of Euphorbia 

 splendcns which read, 'This very rare plant is called "the 

 Thorn of Christ,' 'native of Jerusalem, of the Cactus family.' 

 On the foregoing 1 commented in Lorquinia as follows ; All 

 of which would be interesting if it were true, and pointed out 

 where it is not true which you will observe is in every state- 

 ment." 



