THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
99 
It is much harder to pay for anything after we have 
used it than to pay in advance. If we pay at the begin- 
ning, we appreciate the value of the article each time it is 
used ; if we pay at the end we are w^ont to think the 
article is dearly purchased. This applies to magazines as 
well as to other things. We expect subscribers ultimately 
to pay for what they get, and we have no hesitancy in 
extending credit to all who desire it, and yet we know 
that all will enjoy the magazine more if it is paid for when 
received and therefore suggest to those in arrears that it 
is a good thing to pay up and to pay in advance. 
* 
Having had occasion, recently, to look carefull}^ 
through the first dozen volumes of one of the older Ameri- 
botanical journals, that is still being published, we were 
impressed with the utter lack of interest which most of 
the numbers display. This is not to be considered as a 
criticism of the magazine for at the time these numbers 
were published it is probable that the editor selected the 
matter for publication most suited to the demands of his 
readers. The contents consist in great part of localities 
tor more or less common species, lists of plants found in 
flower on botanizing expeditions, and other items of no 
greater general interest that make exceedingly dry brows- 
ing for readers of the present day. As we made our way 
through these unattractive pages, we began to query 
whether the makers of current botanical literature might 
not here obtain a hint that would save their own writings 
from a similar fate. Notes on distribution are very desir- 
able especially from regions not fully explored, but as soon 
as a region becomes well known these records lose a great 
part of their interest. Descriptions of species, still more 
necessary, are seldom read except by the systematist. 
Notes regarding plant habits or plant adaptations, how- 
ever, have a perennial interest as do articles about plants 
from any fresh or striking view-point. Not only do such 
items -hold their interest longest, but the source from 
which they are drawn is practically inexhaustible. The 
