Beiblatt zu den Botanischen Jahrbüchern. Nr. 52. 13 
One of the most essential features of an efficient botanical nomen- 
clature is a cosmopolitan character. It is very unlikely, therefore, that any 
lasting or satisfactory modification of the present system can be effected 
without international agreement!). Whether this can be obtained and can 
lead to practical and generally acceptable results remains to be seen, but 
certainly until the subject ean have further international consideration 
it is likely that radieal changes will do much more harm than good. The 
recent suggestions for reforming botanieal nomenclature in the United 
States are not in accord with the usage of any other nation nor are they in 
the light of recent foreign publications likely to meet with favor, to say 
nothing of general adoption outside of our own country. Even if the pro- 
posed reform could be carried out in America it would thus give a most 
unfortunate local tendency to scientific expression and thereby do much 
to stultify the whole system of Latin nomenclature, which has been elabo- 
rated largely for international convenience. For the present, therefore, 
serious changes cannot be too scrupulously avoided, and as a basis of 
publication the following rules are recommended as those most conducive 
to stability without the disadvantages of a more rigid code. These rules 
are designed to apply only to phienogams and vascular eryptogams. Bo- 
tanists of all departments, however, are constantly obliged to make use 
of phienogamie names, and all are therefore more or less concerned in the 
preservation of a convenient phaenogamie nomenclature. 
1. Ordinal names, having been established by long usage, should not 
be subjected to revision upon theoretical grounds. 
2. Long-established and generally known generic names, such as 
Liatris, Desmodium, Dalea, Calycanthus, Carya, Aspidium, and others, should 
be retained. While the scope of this rule is left to the discretion of writers, 
it is urged that generie nomenelature should not at present depart far from 
that of the three important works, Bevrnaw and Hooxzn's Genera Plantarum, 
BarLLoN's Histoire des Plantes, and ExaLER and Pranrr’s Natürliche Pflanzen- 
familien, from which for some time to come our most complete and accurate 
information, as to generic limits and affinities, is to be derived. 
3. In specific nomenclature the first correct combination is to be pre- 
ferred. The theoretical reason for this is clear. The specific name is ad- 
jectival in its nature, and parted from its generic noun, loses its significance. 
Moreover, the transfer of a misplaced plant to its correct genus is in general 
a more important service than its description under an incorrect genus, and 
the first correct combination of generic and specific names is, therefore, 
justly worthy of regard. But the most important reason for adopting this 
4) From the published statements of prominent German and Austrian botanists 
there is every prospect that the whole subject of botanical nomenclature will meet with 
early consideration by representative international congress to be convened at an 
early date. 
