1888. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE, . 215 
the proud satisfaction of seeing the scientific world flocking to its déors 
tolearn wisdom. Our government has already given enough money to 
scientific work in botany and agriculture to have shown great results if 
be “ government ” scientists, for they are good men and anxious to do 
good work. But there is a factor in the whole organization of such 
scientific work which is fatal to good results, necessarily so; and that 
is, that every position is filled and every position held by that hob- 
8oblin “political influence.” When they who hold the appointing 
power use it to fill scientific positions for political reasons, it is hardly 
likely that any “science” that the »orld will hear of will be the result. 
If half of the attachés in such “centers of work” are not so much mere — 
are much mistaken, although «e may have the proportion Wrong, 
Our plea, then, is for politics to be banished, along with the “ rubbish” re- 
ferred to, reports not demanded until there is something to report, the - 
“show business” given over to perfectly capable but less scientific hands, 
-4nd the specialist thus be given leisure to do work that will beacredit — 
to himself and the government that is paying for it. 4 
OPEN LETTERS. 
White-flowered Linum perenne. 
inundary line betwe-n Montrose and Gunnison ¢ 
ieresting to learn whether this variety exists at all in the m 
alpine regions of Europe. a 
‘est Cliff, Colorado. 
a 
ite form ; : ahs one occ ede see CC 
Py Tne 40 alpine, I only met with it on ounties, It would be 
in ei 
—_ Buchloe ppepeanc oe Nee oe 2 
has box’ “ince Nuttall, in 1818, wrote of it, Buchioe oe? Pte" ro 
- een recognized as one of the best forage grasses of a | 
