18 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ Jan. 
rr packed. I have known persons who stoutly maintained, from experi- 
made, that the wings of the fruit of the tulip-tree ibitititet to little, 
Pies they did not carry the fruit through the air like a miniature balloon. 
The nuts of the basswood have also frequently been seen drifting on the 
snow before the wind, ai ided by the decurrent bract which is attached in such 
a way that the fruit teiabar is not likely to remain flat on le snow or on the 
ground. 
Numerous other Sabie could be eited, but we shall leave the rest of 
them for some of the sharp students who are dd ping botany in winter.—W 
J. BEAL, pensions College, Mich. 
EDITORIAL. 
WITH THIS INITIAL NUMBER of a new decade before us, it is impossible not 
to think of the change since a single naked sheet made its appearance a little 
more than ten years ago and announced its desire to become the organ of bot- 
ani It was projected by one whose determination to make it succeed 
was unfailing, and so through non of all kinds the Gazerre made its 
way. irable articles came in slowly, subscriptions still more slowly, — 
advertisements not at all, the constant financial loss being set over agains 
constantly increasing experience. At last botanists thought re struggle Sa 
been long enough to show vitality, and articles and subscriptions began to come 
in more rapidly, until the Gazerre has entered upon its second decade with 
growing interest and vigor in botanical studies. The history of this journal 
can be taken as an index of botanical iat i and this country is to be con- 
gratulated that its botanists are so thoroughly aroused and energetic that the 
botanical activity in this country, many young men, strong, A Ea and 
well-equipped, having entered the field. The Gazerre proposes to s sataie, 
0 assist, to record this activity, and no honest worker need fear that pe work 
will be lost. And so this journal, strengthened by the struggles and successes 
of ten years, faces its second decade with the marks of undoubted success, and 
as it deserves, so will it expect the hearty support of every American botanist. 
A LITTLE REFLECTION will show that the recent sale in New York city of 
orchids Senne to the Morgan estate, at which single plants brought from 
to ndred dollars each, has some relation to the pr of botanical 
science. as this age any science is stimulated into increased activity by its 
objects becoming of commercial value. In the domain of electrical and me- 
