American Fern Society 125 



England. The average collector has to choose not be- 

 tween pressing the fern and growing it, but between 

 pressing it and leaving it with considerable chance at 

 times that it may not be there when he returns. The 

 reclaiming of land for cultivation, or for dwellings, or 

 the trampling of cattle are frequent causes of the dis- 

 appearance of all sorts of wild treasures. The trans- 

 planting of ferns liable to destruction in this manner 

 would not necessarily save them, for back-yard culture 

 of ferns is seldom successful unless special pains are 

 taken to transplant also large amounts of soil at the 

 same time, and even with this precaution failures are 

 numerous. 



Certainly it is much to be regretted that more mem- 

 bers of the Fern Society are not interested in fern grow- 

 ing here in America, and it is to be hoped that all who 

 have facilities will work to develop collections of living 

 ferns and will make themselves known so that other less 

 fortunate members may know where they can send 

 living plants with a reasonable chance that they will be 

 preserved. It should be most strongly emphasized, 

 however, that any indiscriminate criticism, especially 

 as regards any specific herbarium collection, is entirely 

 without justification. Charges of vandalism should 

 not be made unless backed by detailed proofs. 



American Fern Society 



Changed address: Fermen L. Pickett, Pullman, Wash- 

 ington. Prof. S. Fred Prince, Xotch, Stone Co., Mo. 



New Members: Franklin A. Barnes, Bellona, Yates 

 Co., X. Y.; Major Herman Burgin, U. S. A., 63 West 

 Chelten Ave., Germantown, Pa.; Mrs. Ethelwyn F. 

 Merrill, Xorthwood Narrows, N. H. 



