THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 
31 
readers may find it advantageous to join it. This Chapter was 
organized in 1888 and was specially designed for helping begin- 
ners. It is principally engaged in the field study of our native 
flowering plants, but welcomes to meml)ership all who are inter- 
ested in any branch of botany. The annual dues are twenty-five 
cents. The Chapter issues as its official organ a monthly ''Corre- 
spondence Bulletin," written by the members and containing re- 
cords of personal observation. These Bulletins are sent through 
the Chapter from member to member and promote an excellent 
feeling of comradeship while stimulating each member to further 
study. Copies of the Chapter's constitution and further informa- 
tion may be obtained from the General Secretary', ^Iv. William H. 
^McDonald. 122 Pearl street, Elizabeth. X. J., who will take pleas- 
ure in putting any lover of botany in the way of becoming a mem- 
ber of the Chapter, if desired. 
People who are not botanists usually have a hazy idea of range 
in plants and fail to catch the enthusiasm of the student who re- 
joices at finding some insignificant weed hundreds of miles be- 
yond its reported range. It is a common belief that plant species 
in general are likely to occur in almost any part of the world 
having the same temperature, and it usually requires considerable 
explanation to enable the average individual to comprehend that 
different kinds of plants, like nations, are restricted to certain defi- 
nite areas on the globe. In fact, the average individual seldom 
thinks much about plants, except in the case of those with striking 
peculiarities, when he is likely to believe that they grow nowhere 
except in the spot where he has found them, and that they will not 
survive, even under cultivation in other localities. 
BOOKS AND WRITERS. 
— The late Thomas Meehan has been succeeded by his son, S. 
Mendelson ^leehan, as editor of Meehans Monthly. 
— The Bryologist, which changed to a bi-monthly in January, 
has advanced its subscription price to one dollar a year. 
