EDITORIAL. 



Two or three complaints have reached us to the effect 

 that some copies of the January number sent out were 

 soiled or damaged in binding. We take the opportunity, 

 therefore, to say that we are interested in having every 

 one of our readers receive a perfect copy of each num- 

 ber issued, and we will gladly replace such copies if noti- 

 fied of the fact. We do not intend to send out imperfect 

 copies, but it is impossible for us to see every one, and 

 we shall appreciate it if subscribers will notify us when 

 damaged copies are mailed. 



That each fern student should endeavor to make his 

 own list of species as large as possible is of course to be 

 expected, but when it comes to a comparison of one 

 locality with another mere numbers may often be very 

 misleading. Unless each student agrees to call, certain 

 things species and certain other things varieties, it is 

 easy for a radical to list a lot of forms as species and so 

 appear to have many more species than really should be 

 placed to his credit. This fact is of special importance 

 in comparing the fern flora of one State with that of 

 another. In regions where such variable genera as 

 Botrychium } Isoetes and Selaginclla abound it makes a 

 great difference whether these forms are considered 

 species or varieties. In editing the Fern Floras of the 

 States ►we have constantly endeavored to be uniform in 

 this matter, but have met with great unwillingness upon 

 die part of some to view the matter in the same light. 

 Nor have our efforts to preserve a uniform nomenclature 

 met with much greater agreement. There are always 

 a few who insist upon writing Filix for Cystopteris, 

 Dryoptcris for Ncphrodium and Pteridium for Pteris to 

 the great confusion of all beginners in the study. They 

 do not insist upon Filix because of its lucidity, for 

 Cystopteris is far better known. Their reason appears 

 to be either a desire to be different from the great mass 

 of students, or else to follow some nonsensical rule for 



