268 Rhodora [DECEMBER 
his Lycopodium Selago lucidulum, a name which will scarcely be main- 
tained by any careful observer or trained systematist and which 
even the author himself discards before he reaches his checklist of 
species at the end of the volume. The littering of botanical synon- 
ymy with such useless names seems to us more reprehensible than 
any bone fide attempt no matter how radical to reform nomenclature. 
It may be properly urged furthermore that the launching of new 
names or combinations should not be attempted unless their exact 
relation to earlier names is made clear by adequate and orderly bibli- 
ographical references to previous literature. If it should be held 
that such definite and scholarly citation is out of place in a manual 
primarily intended for beginners, it is no less clear that such popular 
works are not the medium for the publication of new scientific names. 
In the checklist the name Robbinsii is spelled Robinsii, and porophilum 
is spelled forophylum. <A brief glossary is appended in which some 
of the definitions such as * Tomentose. — Covered with matted wool," 
“Panicle. — A cluster of fruit in which the stems branch more or 
less," and “ Spatulate. — Spoon-shaped," might have been consider- 
ably improved. 
'The pen illustrations which are numerous and sufficiently charac- 
teristic will doubtless be useful to the beginner. Some colored proc- 
ess plates are less successful, exhibiting in distorted perspective 
certain species, which stand out in front of their scenic background 
in a way strongly suggestive of their majestic allies of the carbon- 
iferous period. 
Notwithstanding some defects the book is a worthy addition to 
popular botanical literature and will doubtless aid many in the study 
of an interesting group of plants. — B. L. R. 
THe TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW 
ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLuB.— On December rst, the New England 
Botanical Club held its annual meeting at Hotel Brunswick, in Bos- 
ton. At the business session the customary reports of the treas- 
urer and curators were presented, several new members were voted 
into the Club, and the following officers were elected for the coming 
year: President, B. L. Robinson, Vice-President, Walter Deane, 
Recording Secretary and Treasurer, E. F. Williams, Corresponding 
Secretary, E. L. Rand, Phanerogamic Curator, M. L. Fernald, 
Cryptogamic Curator, Hollis Webster, Councillors, Messrs. G. G. 
Kennedy, F. S. Collins, and F. D. Lambert. 
