Dr. E. F. Bigelow tells us that the bushy rootstocks of the 

 Osmundas ploughed up in pastures and meadows, are called 

 ■'skunk's tails'' by country lads. These rootstocks last a long 

 time after the plants have died and have a fairly striking resem- 

 blance to the tails of the animals mentioned. 



In many parts of Connecticut, and perhaps elsewhere, the 

 Christmas fern is called "hardy fern" in allusion, doubtless, to 

 its evergreen fronds. The gardener, however, would call any fern 

 able to survive the winter a hardy fern. The sturdy Christmas 

 fern well deserves the title, though the common polypody might 

 dispute its right to the title. 



Mr. C. F. Baker, whose collecting trips to unknown regions 

 has resulted in the discovery of many new species, has been ap- 

 pointed Botanist to the Cuban Government and his address is now 

 Estacion Agronomica Santiago de las Vegas, Habana. Mr. Percy 

 Wilson, formerly of the New York Botanical Garden, will act as 

 his assistant. 



At the St. Louis meeting of the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, Prof. Stanley M. Coulter, in il- 

 lustrating a paper on the ecological relations of some swamp 

 areas, showed some views in Eastern Iowa, in which the tree 

 trunks were covered with Poly podium incanum. This plant, 

 with the IVoodsia Ihensis, reported by Prof. Shimek, adds two 

 species to the fern flora of Iowa as recently published in this 

 journal. 



After much delay, a complete set of the Ferx Bulletin has 

 at last been secured and now reposes in the Boston Public 

 Library. Complete sets are quite rare and we know of but two 

 others in public institutions, one being at Columbia University 

 and the other at the Michigan Agricultural College. No doubt 

 there are several others and it would be of interest not only to us 

 but to those desiring to consult the early issues, if the where- 

 abouts of complete sets was put on record. YVe would also like 

 to hear from subscribers owning complete files. The early 

 numbers are becoming so scarce that it is a distinction to have 

 a full set. Let us hear from you. A postal card will do. 



