30 AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL 
fifty page numbers instead of thirty-two. Judging by 
a number of commendatory letters and_ practically 
none finding fault, the contents of the JourNAL meet 
the approval of the members. 
The prospects for the present year include two state: 
fern floras, two detailed studies of related ferns, and, 
we hope, a check list which will bring out the almost 
complete unanimity which now obtains with respect to 
the scientific names of our native ferns among the 
various institutions of the country, as well as serve as a 
basis for collectors. An interesting suggestion has 
been made recently that there should be prepared a 
list of native ferns giving the best common names as 
far as there are any, and proposing new ones where 
good ones are lacking. We shall be glad to receive the 
opinions of members both as to the advisability of such 
a list and as to names which it should include. Un- 
doubtedly there are a considerable number of members 
who do not readily accustom themselves to the tech- 
nical names and who would like a standard list of 
English synonyms. 
inally we can only reaffirm that we wish to act for 
the members: to prepare for publication what they 
send in, and to contribute as opportunity offers to the 
general knowledge of ferns. We shall accept anything 
which adds to fern knowledge, or is of interest in this 
connection—especially checks to pay for more pages or 
or for more illustrations. For the latter as heretofore 
our funds are inadequate and before the year is over 
we shall probably have to ask some contributors to 
furnish part of the cost of any plates, as well as to con- 
tribute toward them ourselves, 
R. C. Benepict, 
E. J. WinsLow, 
C. A. WEATHERBY, 
Editors. 
