280 THE Jorm'AL of botaxt 



TO OUll SUBSCEIBERS. 



It seems riglit that our subscribers should be made acquainted 

 Avith tlie difficulties which at present attend the production of the 

 Journal and seriously threaten its continuance. The cost of printing 

 steadily increases and shows no prospect of diminution, and, in spite 

 of help rendered by friends in various ways, the annual accounts 

 show a serious deficit. 



The issue for last year resulted in a loss of £32 18s. SJ. ; this, 

 liowever, was practically defrayed by a small balance remaining from 

 tlie sum raised by the late E. S. Marshall in 1917, and by generous 

 donations from Dr. Britton of New York and Mr. C. E. Sahnon. 



Eor the present jea,r this position is far more serious. The 

 account delivered at the end of June, hy which time practically all 

 subscriptions for the year had been paid, showed a balance in hand of 

 16s. 9il. with which to carry on the remaining six months. Allowing 

 for receipts from sales of numbers, reprints, etc., it is estimated that 

 at the end of the year there will be deficit of over a hundred pounds, 

 and this although the cost of the two supplements and of plates 

 has been defrayed by the authors, and help towards the production 

 of other papers has been received. Sums amounting at present to 

 £25 have been received or promised by those who have been made 

 acquainted with the position of affairs, but it will be seen that much 

 more will be needed in order to protect the Editor from serious loss. 



This being so, the outlook in 1921 is even more highly unsatis- 

 factory, and it is doubtful whether it will not be necessary to 

 terminate the existence of the Journal with the December number. 

 The possil)ility of this has resulted in numerous expressions of hope 

 that what is regarded b}" many in the light of a catastrophe may be 

 averted : we need not say how deeply we ourselves should regret such 

 a contingency, and have indeed already received promises of help to 

 carry on, and suggestions whereby the Journal may be placed on 

 a more secure footing. Among these the raising of the subscription 

 to 22s. Q(I. post free and the price of numbers to two shillings is the 

 most practical ; but it may be doubted whether this Avould be 

 sufficient to put the Journal on a substantial footing. And nothing- 

 can be more unsatisfactory than that it should depend for sui)port 

 upon the result of continual special appeals, just as nothing can 

 be more unpleasant than to be compelled to make them. Meanwhile 

 we shall be glad to hear from any subscribers how the above pro- 

 ])osal is regarded by them, and grateful for help towards this year's 

 deficit ; this will be duly acknowledged in our December issue, 

 when the course determined on for the future will be announced. 



The Editoij. 



