EDITORIAL. 



Our readers have doubtless noticed in the public 

 press more or less extended references to the proposal, 

 now before congress, to increase the mailing rate of 

 the monthly and quarterly magazines. The annual 

 deficit in the postal service is urged in extenuation of 

 this proposal, but it is difficult to understand why the 

 magazines should be charged with this deficit and the 

 weekly and daily newspapers go as at present. Across 

 the border in Canada the rate is exactly half of what 

 it is in the United States and yet they have no deficit. 

 Well informed observers are of the opinion that if all 

 the mail sent out by the Government under franks of 

 varius kinds, was charged up to each department as it 

 should be, there would be no deficit here. Be that as it 

 may, one thing is certain. If the cost of mailing is 

 raised it will increase the cost of all magazines to the 

 reader. Those who believe they are paying enough 

 for their magazines as it is, should do what they can to 

 convince their congressman and senators that a raise 

 in the mailing rate is not warranted by the facts. 

 When the postal service was organized, the mailing 

 rate on publications was made low for the express pur- 

 pose of furthering the spread of information among 

 the people. Any repression now is a step backward. 

 * * * 



A second number oi the British Fern Gazette has 

 appeared and is quite up to the standard set by the 

 initial number. The frontispiece is a fine photo of 

 Lastrea (Nephrodium) Montana plutnosa and the text 

 is devoted to several well written articles on various 

 abnormal forms. We learn from the editor that the 

 magazine will be sent for five shillings a year, — about 

 $1.25. Those who are interested in cultivating the 



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