THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



157 



fore invited to the three following questions. What is the most 

 fragrant native wildflovver in your region? What is the most 

 beautiful native wildflower taken singly? What is the most 

 beautiful native flower in masses? It is quite likely that replies 

 will vary somewhat, due in part to individual preference and in 

 part to differences in the flora. One might suppose that in New 

 England the trailing arbutus, the Azalea and the white water 

 lily will vie with one another for first place, but in the prairie 

 States where heaths are o^ten rare, the award might go to^ the 

 wild crab, the basswood, or even some of the phloxes. In the 

 South the magnolia might be chosen. As for the Far West 

 land Northwest, there are doubtless plenty of fragrant flowers 

 there but none seem to have become famous enough on this 

 account to have become conspicuous. The other two questions 

 to which replies are invited are not different forms of the same 

 question as may at first appear. It is quite possible for flowers 

 small and insignificant, individually, to produce much beauty 

 in the mass while single flowers though beautiful may not 

 always be so in groups. It may require some thoug'ht to select 

 the representative for each question. All who are interested in 

 the subject are invited to send in replies. There are no' dues, 

 fees or other obligations connected with the scheme. All we 

 want is such information as readers can give and this may be 

 sent in on a postal if more convenient. The results of the first 

 inquiry will be published in the next number of this magazine. 



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As this is written both the August and November numbers 

 are in type but not printed and the copy for the first number of 

 the new volume is ready. The unreasonable delay in the 

 mag'azine is due entirely to our printers. This, however, is to 

 be the last delay of the kind. If our present printers do not 

 rapidly develop more ginger we purpose changing to some 

 other firm that is not so lacking in this essential quality. 



