In common with all other magazines, we annually re- 
ceive a large number of applications for sample copies from 
people who subsequently do not subscribe. Of course, all 
have their reasons for not subscribing, but it strikes us that 
if w^e could find out what these reasons are, discover what the 
non-subscribers are looking for and give it to them, we 
would obtain the xery thing zi'e are looking for, namely, a 
larger subscription list. We have therefore selected from 
the list of applicants received during the last three months 
certain persons to whom we shall send a marked copy of this 
note. To all who receive this marked copy we make the 
following offer : To the writer of the best criticism of the 
magazine received before March 15th we will give a year's 
subscription and a 50 per cent discount on the price of all 
back numbers, if desired : to the writer of the second best 
criticism we will give a year's subscription and a 25 per cent 
discount on the price of back numbers, if desired; and to 
all who send criticisms we will send a free copy of the 
March number. It will be seen that letters praising the 
magazine will stand no chance at all. We do not w-ant 
praise : w^e -want pointers. If we cannot find out why you, 
personally, did not subscribe, we cannot make the magazine 
so that it will attract, in future, people with tastes like yours. 
Is the magazine too technical or not enough so? Do you 
prefer more illustrations? Would you rather have mere pic- 
tures than text that is of interest ? Do you prefer more ar- 
ticles about collecting? ^lore plant descriptions? Do you like 
more, or less, Note and Comment ? In what particular phase 
of botany are you m^ost interested? What other botanical 
magazine do vju take? Why do you think it better than 
ours? Tliese and similar questions are what we want 
