148 M^esf American Scientist. 



Engraving Co. from photographs These illustrations will accom- 

 pany a series ol articles on this country, rendered familiar to 'the 

 editor by frequent botanical trips in the past. 



Picturesque San Diego is a work of which San Diegans may 

 well feel proud, and we are sure the scenery of San Diego county, 

 presented in so artistic a style, will bear comparison with that of 

 any land, and that the book will meet the expectations of all. 



The Colorado Desert. The letter given elsewhere from the 

 Hon. W. E. Webb tends to show that the eastern portion of the 

 county, and of northern Lower California, equals, in fertility of 

 soil, the western. His reference to Kansas, reminds us of the 

 experience of a lady in this county, who, upon first viewing the 

 broad level plains, was so strongly reminded of her former Kansas 

 home as to become homesick, and she paid, " I sat down and 

 cried." The rank vegetation said to grow on the desert when 

 heavy rains fall in that region, proves the natural richness of the 

 soil, but a portion of the land is practically worthless from its 

 mineral character, and the whole is and will be barren and virtually 

 a desert until vast irrigation schemes are carried out. 



To Readers. — We need more money and we should have it 

 if each reader that has subscribed would promptly pay in advance. 

 We are supplying a magazine pronounced the best of its class. 

 We charge less than many ask for journals of less merit. One 

 dollar is cheap for 300 pages such as we propose giving yearly. 

 If not a subscriber you can afford to become one ; il already one 

 you can afford to pay in advance. 



Life Subscribers. — We herewith make the following offer: 

 For ten ($ro.oo) dollars paid at any one time we will send this 

 journal to any address during the life of the subscriber, or so 

 long as the journal may be published. We want 100 life sub- 

 scribers at once. Who will be first? 



Natural History is not an exact science. The 'old style' 

 of books and teaching left no questions open, left the student no 

 reason to doubt that all questions are forever settled. The new 

 style of text books and teaching would direct the pupil to new 

 fields of research, discovery and of careful thought. Biology is 

 not a science to be learned as we would learn to add, multipy or 

 subtract in arithmetic, but to be learned by comparison and by 

 observation. 



Dr. Albert Kellogg. —We are pleased to give a brief sketch 

 of the life of this genial botnnist from the pen of his colaborer in 

 science, whose initials will be quickly recognized by many ol our 

 readers. One of the pleasantest recollections of a visit to San 

 Francisco in last- December is that of the gentleman and scholar, 

 who so truly seemed out of place in the dismal academy building 

 and whose fervent *' God bless you ' ' at parting will be long 

 remembered. 



