EDITORIAL. 
With their usual abilit}- to perceive the fitness cf things, the 
editors of the Plant World chose their **'souvenir'* number as a 
medium for throwing a large quantity of mud— and very black 
mud, too— at the American Botanist and its editor. The edi- 
tors were evidently in what is known as "a state of mind" when 
they took up their pens, and all because we do not believe Am- 
erica needs two plant protection societies and have had the hardi- 
hood to mention it. To us it seems that if we really mean plant 
protection, the best way to accomplish it is to help on the work of 
the original Boston society, but if our object is to brace up the 
failing circulation of the Plant World— why that is another mat- 
ter. In fact that is the only matter that makes a second society 
desirable, regardless of how "national" its scope is made by m.eans 
of honorary officers. The Plant JVorld editors are excited and 
should avoid all stimulating literature for a time, especially the 
American Botanist. 
The Fern Bulletin celebrated the completion of ten years of un- 
interrupted publication by making a special number of the Octo- 
ber issue, in which are printed articles upon fern study in various 
parts of the world as well as a complete sur\'ey of fern study in 
America. Although a comparatively youthful journal, it is al- 
ready the third oldest of -\merican botanical publications, exclud- 
ing those devoted wholly or in part to horticulture. During its 
existence it has witnessed the demise of several larger and more 
pretentious journals for the way of the botanical publication is, 
at best, rough and beset with many difficulties. 
At the beginning the Fern Bulletin found it necessar}- to 
*'make" its own public. At that time people interested in the 
study of ferns were exceedingly few and to have begim with a 
magazine like the present one. would have meant failure through 
lack of support. The first issues were therefore rather small and 
insignificant, but they rapidly improved with a growing clientele. 
The number of pages has increased half a dozen times, at least, 
and at present thirty-two pages are published each issuse. The 
magazine is now on a safe financial basis and in this respect is pro- 
bably unique among -\merican publications of its class. 
