73 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



of the flower heads in the nearly alHed Rudbeckia speciosa bi- 

 color. The brown in the rays of R. Jiirta, however, does not 

 seem to be very firmly fixed, for upon transplanting such speci- 

 mens to the garden they frequently, if not always, return to the 

 normal color. Specimens transplanted by the writer of these 

 lines acted thus, and the same thing was recently reported in 

 Rhodora. The writer, however, was able to secure consider- 

 able seed from the abnormal specimens and now has a hundred 

 or more plants from the seed, which will be watched at the 

 blooming season next year, in expectation of seeing the brown 

 color reappear. 



The Scientist and the Novice. — In an experience of 

 some twenty-two years of editing scientific magazines, I have 

 been more and more impressed by the fact that the greater the 

 man the more willing he is to help those who are not so great. 

 I have found that when I want to know the answer to even the 

 simplest question it is best to send that question to the biggest 

 expert in that particular line of thought that there is in the 

 country, or perhaps in the world. Then I am sure to get 

 not only an authoritative but a kindly and prompt answer. 

 Several times I have thought when a cjuestion comes to my 

 desk, one, for example, pertaining to dentistry, that I would 

 send it to a local dentist, or a legal query to^ a local lawyer, or 

 perhaps some point of natural science to a local teacher who 

 should have access to many books. But such an action almost 

 invariably proves to be a mistake. Several times has come 

 the reply, 'T am too busy in my work to answer your ques- 

 tions," and not infrecjuently ''This question is too simple for 

 me to take time to answer. You ought to send it to someone 

 more interested in elementary work than I am." But not 

 once in almost a Cjuarter of a century of experience have I 

 been refused, or repulsed, or delayed by any really great 

 authority. I now send such questions, simple as they are, to 

 the most learned men and women in the land or to the 'most 



