— IOI — 



for this collecting fever to run its course, and then the ferns are 

 forgotten in collecting something else. There is, however, a bet- 

 ter kind of fern-collecting — a kind which inclines the one who 

 once begins it to always be a fern student, and which in a meas- 

 ure satisfies him with such species as are found in his own vicin- 

 ity. This consists in collecting everything relating to ferns that 

 will throw light upon their life histories. Why should we be con- 

 tent with the mere tops of ferns — tops although broken off at the 

 surface of the earth — and think our collection complete when it 

 still lacks rootstocks, prothalli, fronds in bud. young fronds and 

 all the curious and wonderful variations of the mature plant ? 

 When one begins a collection of this kind, the commonest species 

 acquires a new interest and no woodland or rocky ledge can ever 

 be considered exhausted of its treasures, when some remarkable 

 form may appear there at any time. For the same reason collec- 

 tions of common ferns from other localities are of value. Until 

 one has specimens of the same plant from its extremes of range, 

 he can form no conception of the average of the species, and 

 does not know whether the specimens of his own locality are 

 typical or not. The ideal collection for a student is one that con- 

 tains representatives of each species from as many different local- 

 ities as it is possible to obtain them. 



* * 



Mr. Eaton's article in this issue on the genus 

 THE GENUS Equisetum is the first of the series to be illustrated, 

 EQUISETUM and he has accordingly prepared for distribution 



sets of all but one of the varieties mentioned, the 

 missing one to be supplied later. Since the following articles 

 upon the other species are to be illustrated in this unique way, 

 there is likely to be a large demand for the series, and those who 

 would not be disappointed should order early. In case the supply 

 falls short, those who are too late will be sent the first sets of the 

 next distribution. 



The editor pleads guilty to writing the headings 

 DICKSONIA for both of Mr. Maxon's articles on Dicksonia. 



This explanation will clear the latter from any sus- 

 picion of confusion in regard to terms and allow us to notice the 

 fact that this, one of the most beautiful of our common ferns, is 

 still without a common name. As will be observed, English 

 names in plenty have been given it, but none seem to have re- 

 ceived the sanction of popular use and approval, a most essential 

 requirement in a common name. 



