58 AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL 
The benefits, aside from sharpening the powers of the 
individual observer, will presumably include an exten- 
sion of the known range of D. simulata, at least, and the 
listing of many distinctive characters which may even 
require a redefinition of the other two species. Has any 
one found lately the exindusiate form of D. novebora- 
censis discussed long ago by Gilbert? What did D. C. 
Eaton write about the forms of this species? Have you 
ever come across D. thelypterrs growing entirely sub- 
merged in a stream and putting out reduced leaves 
under water? These are the kind of things that ought 
to be studied by our whole membership, and the ob- 
servations recorded. There should be 20 short articles 
by members in every issue of the JouRNAL. 
Finally, we should make a practice of sending in to 
our Curator annually a package of selected complete 
specimens, with data full and accurate in every respect, 
for building up the Society herbarium. This should be 
a repository in which all our native ferns are represented 
by ample suites of specimens secured from every part 
of their range, designed to show not only local and chance 
variations but, what is more essential, the extremes 
which nearly all species attain normally in different parts 
of their range. In no other way than by consistent 
intelligent field work shall we ever know our ferns fully, 
either as to relationship and characters or as to distri- 
bution. This, over and above the personal profit. and 
pleasure of fascinating field work, should be our serious 
purpose. 
Respectfully, 
Witiiam R. Maxon, President. 
