AMERICAN FERN SOCIETY oo 
produce sori. Polypodium Mandianum (aureum var.) 
has highly ruffled and laciniate pinnae, and only occas- 
ionally, rarely, produces sori. 
hat are your observations as to the occurrence of 
B. dissectum?—R. C. B 
American Fern Society. 
Report of the President for 1920. 
The most important event in the history of the Fern 
Society during the past year was the increase in indi- 
vidual membership dues by one-half, a measure adopted 
by a nearly unanimous vote. There has since been no 
falling off in membership; the number of members has, 
on the contrary, increased to 271, a new mark for the 
Society. This response has been most satisfactory, and — 
the healthy condition of the Society’s finances is admir- 
ably summarized in the report of the Treasurer, a short 
statement which each member of the Society is urged 
to read carefully. 
To a very great extent the usefulness of the Society 
is directly proportional to the size of its membership, 
for this determines not only the opportunities for cor- 
respondence and for exchange of specimens among those 
most interested in fern study, but largely sets the limit 
also to the circulation of the JouRNAL, which is our 
principal evidence of activity. With. more members 
more pages could be published in each number, more 
money could be allowed for illustrations, and larger 
editions could be distributed. And with an increase 
in circulation, assuming that present editorial excellence 
is maintained, the influence of the JourNaL would be 
increasingly great. Thus, particular attention is being 
given just now to enlarging the membership, the matter 
being in the hands of a special committee consisting of 
Robert A. Ware, Chairman, E. J. Winslow, and Mrs. 
