The editor of this journal is again away from home, which will explain
any delays in his correspondence. Letters intended for him and sent to
the usual address will be forwarded at once.
**
Every time the Fern Bulletin is late, doubtless half the subscribers
wonder what the editor can be doing to prevent the magazine from
appearing on time. The editor, therefore, rises to explain that this
publication would always be issued promptly if correspondents would send
in copy in season. We endeavor to have each issue ready for the printer
_a month before publication_, and yet there are many of our
contributors, who, having arranged for space in a number, will wait
until two or three days before the publication date to send in copy.
There is too much matter in the Fern Bulletin for it to be printed,
bound and mailed in one day--or in one week for that matter--and we
simply cannot appear on time if we have to wait for copy. We trust that
contributors will bear this in mind and co-operate with us in future in
this matter of promptness.
**
In this number, all subscribers whose subscriptions are not paid in
advance, will find a bill for the next volume, and the amount in
arrears, if any. There are so few who stop their subscriptions after
once becoming members of the Fern Bulletin circle of readers that to
save all from the possible loss of a number between the expiration and
renewal of subscription, we continue to send the magazine until ordered
to stop. Those who do not wish to be considered subscribers for the new
volume should notify us at once. In view of the liberal terms upon which
the publication is sent, we trust that we may continue to count all our
present subscribers among our readers for another year.
**
The new volume of this magazine will be along the lines of its
predecessors. The Fern-floras of the States will be continued, those for
California and Florida being expected to appear early in the year,
followed by others now in preparation. The series of portraits of fern
students will be discontinued for the present, to make room for a new
series on exotic ferns in which will be illustrated the ferns of unusual
appearance from other lands, together with descriptive notes upon their
haunts and habits. In nearly every fern collector's herbarium are
species of which little more than the name is known. It is expected that
this series will add much to our knowledge of these. Mr. Eaton's
_Equisetum_ articles will be finished during the year. Other features of
the publication will be continued. A cordial invitation is extended to
every reader to contribute notes and articles of interest.
**
When one's herbarium has grown so bulky that it cannot be looked through
in an hour or so, and especially when it contains numerous sheets of the
same species, it often becomes a puzzling question what to show the
non-scientific visitor who wants to see the ferns, but who has no
interest in the slight differences that separate closely related forms.
To fit such cases we would suggest the formation of an "oh, my!"
collection--a collection designed to provoke the visitor's interest and
admiration and draw forth frequent ejaculations of surprise. Such a
collection saves wear and tear on the general herbarium and often
excites a real and lasting interest in the ferns. It should contain, of
course, the walking and climbing ferns, the little _Schizaea_, the
hartstongue, the maidenhair, the cinnamon and sensitive ferns, etc. Some
of the gold and silver ferns might be included, the star fern is
desirable and various species of grape fern will add to the interest. A
few finely cut fronds like that of _Dicksonia_ may be added, with such
other species as suggest themselves on account of oddity in fruiting. A
few fern allies would make a complete and desirable show herbarium.
**
The recent likening, in this journal, of crested and tasseled fronds to
two-headed rabbits has borne fruit in an unexpected quarter. Certain
cultivators of ferns now speak of their stock as species, varieties and
two-headed rabbit sorts!
**
In a recent article on the distribution of _Isoetes saccharata_, in the
_Botanical Gazette_, the author notes that _I. saccharata_ is found only
in Chesapeake Bay, while _I. riparia_, a form that closely resembles it,
is found only in Delaware Bay, and that, notwithstanding the small
differences between the two, there have been described two intermediate
forms, _I. saccharata Palmeri_ and _I. s. reticulata_. From this and
other facts, he inclines to the belief that _I. riparia_ is simply an
extreme form of _saccharata_. A curious circumstance connected with the
species and forms is that specimens collected in a certain locality
appeared one season as the type and the next as the variety. This is not
the only instance on record of _Isoetes_ species intergrading. Mr. A. A.
Eaton has noted that the variety _Californica_ of _I. melanopoda_
intergrades on the one hand with _I. Howelli_ and on the other with the
type, while specimens referred to _I. mexicana_ by Underwood have since
been identified as _I. Orcuttii_ and _I. melanopoda_. All this seems to
indicate that the systematists have not yet got hold of the proper
characters upon which to found specific differences, and there is here a
chance for a philosophical botanist to distinguish himself. It is not
enough that the plants look different; the differences must be specific.
All of the forms of _Equisetum arvense_ look different, but they are not
species by any means.
**
Plans are being made for another meeting of fern students at St. Louis
this winter, during the session of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. There is a prospect of some excellent papers to
be presented, and a large and enthusiastic meeting is assured. Programs
and other information may be obtained of Prof. N. L. T. Nelson, Central
High School, St. Louis, Mo., or of the editor of The Fern Bulletin. The
editor expects to be at the meeting and hopes to meet there the majority
of his readers.