MOSS DEPARTMENT. 



Edited by Dr. A. J. Grout. 



Items for this department should be addressed to Dr. A. J . Grout* Ply- 

 mouth, N. H. 



This department is opened with the purpose of enabling any 

 one at all interested in mosses to get some knowledge of these 

 plants without excessive labor or expense. The articles in this 

 first number will be followed by articles on collecting, mounting, 

 methods of study and other topics of general interest. In the 

 following numbers, as in this, we propose to describe and illus- 

 trate one or more ot our common mosses and to continue this so 

 long as it seems helpful or advisable. 



The editor will also try to identify for subscribers difficult 

 specimens accompanied by notes and return postage, but will not 

 agree to do so if either of the above conditions is not complied 

 with. All letters requiring a reply must also contain return post- 

 age. The specimens will be kept unless something to the con- 

 trary is requested. 



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It is also hoped that the Bulletin may become a medium for 

 the communication of bryological notes of interest in the same 

 way that has been so admirably done in the case of ferns and 

 fern-allies. Notes are earnestly solicited from all our moss 

 students. The editor also plans to have ready for distribution 

 specimens of as many of the species taken up as is possible. A 

 nominal charge for each specimen will be made to pay for post- 

 age, labels, assistance in making up packets, etc. The same ar- 

 rangements for distribution to subscribers will be made in this 

 department that is made in the case of ferns, i e. , members hav- 

 ing mosses to distribute will announce the fact in the Bulletin 

 and serd out their material at their own terms. 



OUTFIT FOR THE STUDY OF MOSSES. 



FOR the study of mosses we should have a good hand-lens, a 

 compound microscope with a magnifying power of 100 to 

 200 diameters (a two inch eye- piece and a one-half and one- 

 fifth lens make a good combination), a pair of dissecting needles, 

 a pair of small sharp scissors, a pair of fine pointed forceps and a 



