176 Rhodora [AUGUST 
by period and comma in fifteen cases, and by period only, in eight 
cases. When the name is not abbreviated it is usually followed by a 
comma but a period is used after Nash is one case. The name Scrib- 
ner is abbreviated three times as “Scribn.,” twice as ''Serib.," and 
once is unabbreviated. In one case a period is placed after Nash in 
parentheses, and in another case between the name and author. In 
the citation ‘‘Setaria Beauvais, 1812 not Achers., 1798,” it may be 
pointed out that the first author spelled his name ''Beauvois" in 
his “Essai,” and the second author referred to is Acharius. Chae- 
tochloa Seribn. was published in 1897 and not 1791. Setaria italica 
was published by Roemer and Schultes in 1817 and not 1897. Pani- 
cum dichotoma should be Panicum dichotomum. 
These errors are in part typographical and concern non-essentials 
but an unusual number may indicate carelessness, and carelessness 
in non-essentials may give the impression of carelessness in essentials. 
It may be noted that the author abbreviates his name as, ‘‘Nwd.” 
This is not in accordance with general usage nor in conformity with 
the recommendation of the Paris Code (Art. 52, especially the com- 
mentary thereon, where it is shown that the abbreviation Hkr is 
susceptable of 2209 interpretations, provided the name begins with H 
and there are only two other consonants, and not including the com- 
bination of vowels i e u). 
The above notes emphasize the principle that details of nomencla- 
ture should not be considered apart from the study of the organisms 
concerned, and that it is necessary for an author to be familiar with 
the group of plants whose nomenclature he attempts to rectify. 
It is well to heed Article 4 of the Vienna Code, that next in importance 
to (1) fixity of names, and (2) the avoidance or rejection of names 
which may cause error or confusion, is the avoidance of all useless 
creation of names, otherwise the situation is beclouded rather than 
clarified. 
Bureau OF PLANT INDUSTRY, Washington, D. C. 
