36 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



volume in stock at 20% from list prices. As a further induce- 

 ment, all who complete their sets secure the magazine at 75 

 cents a year. The saving in subscriptions would in a few 

 years pay for the back numbers. The phase of botany to which 

 this magazine is devoted, is sure to occupy a prominent posi- 

 tion for generations to come and what is already printed must 

 always be taken into consideration. The back numbers will 

 always be worth the price paid for them ; indeed they will 

 grow in value with the years. The offer of back numbers, 

 however, does not include the thirty full sets. Anybody who 

 would like the first 25 volumes and does not wish to pay the 

 full price of $15 now, may send us such sums as they wish 

 and we will at once lay aside a set for them, and send them the 

 value of their remittance in the most recent volumes. When 

 $15 in all lias been sent and the value of the money received 

 in back volumes, we will send the remaining volumes absolute- 

 ly free. P>v (Ordering now an additional saving will be made 

 for prices will be advanced before July. 



BOOKS AND WRITERS 



There are some circumstances in which high v^^ages are 

 not advantageous. In the book world, for instance, the cost 

 of production has greatly decreased the number of new books. 

 This, of course, is not an unmixed blessing for many books 

 appear annually that do not deserve to see the light of print. 

 Among die number of books rejected, however, there are likely 

 to be many that in less strenuous times would have made good 

 with the public. They are now denied the chance. A few years 

 ago, if a book gave any indications of being a possible success, 

 the publisher took a chance on it, Init the cost of issuing is 

 now so great that a book must have very obvious merit to get 

 printed at all. In effect, the decision as to what is, or is not, 

 a desirable book has been largely shifted from the i)ul)lic t(^ 

 the publisher. Publishers as a rule are a pretty wise lot but 



