1921] Fernald, — Expedition to Nova Scotia 107 



nary measurements of the species, the culms being 7.5 dm. high, the 

 spikelets 1.1 cm. long. One old springy field was brilliant with the 

 red spires of Rumex Acctosa and with it was a gigantic species, at 

 first glance taken for rhubarb, but quickly perceived to be a dock, the 

 Butter Dock or Monk's Rhubarb, Rumex alpinus L., a very striking 

 European species which has turned up casually in New England 

 but here is thoroughly naturalized. 



In a roadside ditch as we approached Sand Beach village we found 

 a remarkable form of the ubiquitous and endlessly variable Carex 

 scoparia, and when we got home we found that Pease and Linder had 

 collected the same variation at another station east of Rockville. 

 In this peculiar form the spikes are slenderly rhomboid and tapering 

 to very slender, almost caudate tips. 



Next day, July 15, there was time for an afternoon trip and since 

 Bissell, Linder and I had begun to feel that "Longipes" had a tan- 

 talizing ability to turn up coastal plain specialties wherever they went 

 and since w T e longed to be present at some of these thrilling discoveries, 

 a new grouping for the afternoon seemed desirable. Accordingly 

 when we drove eastward, Bissell, Long and Linder went to Tusket 

 and Pease and I tried the borders of the beautiful lake erroneously 

 called on the map "Porcupine Lake" but known throughout the 

 region as Trefry's Lake. 1 



the Germanic vote) and the Commission appointed to decide on the list of nomina 

 conservanda consisted of Bonnet (French) Britton (American), Harms (German), 

 Prain (British) and Briquet (Swiss) — again far from a German majority. 



The same situation is obvious to anyone who sufficiently cares for the facts to 

 read the records of the Brussels Congress. Flahaut (French) was again president, 

 with de Wildeman (Belgian) general secretary. Of the 54 members of the Per- 

 manent Bureau and the Commission on Nomenclature, 12 were Germans, Austrians 

 and Hungarians; 42 non-Germans. Of the 15 authors of motions present and vot- 

 ing 4 were German, Austrian and Hungarian; the others (11) non-German. Of 

 the 50 botanical establishments having votes, 12 were German, Austrian and Hun- 

 garian; 38 not. Of the 108 votes by delegates from Academies and Societies, 30 

 were cast by Germans, Austrians and Hungarians; 78 by representatives of other 

 countries (including 19 American, 20 French and 15 British). That these facts, 

 which are simple transcriptions from the official published records of the Congresses, 

 most certainly do not represent the "autocracy" of an overwhelming "German 

 majority" should be evident to everyone. For many years prior to the Vienna 

 Congress tremendous effort was expended by those who sincerely wished to bring 

 uniformity out of the very diverse usages of local groups of botanists. The effective 

 foundation-work laid at Paris (German?) was subsequently carried forward with 

 unlimited self-sacrifice and far-seeing skill by Briquet, Flahaut, Rendle and others; 

 and the sportsmanlike or statesmanlike spirit with which the vast majority of dele- 

 gates, representing all sorts of pet views, abandoned their private wishes at Vienna, 

 is one of the most impressive signs that, although a few " Neo-Americans" present 

 were unwilling to concede anything, the botanists of the rest of the world were work- 

 ing disinterestedly for agreement. 



1 See note on p. 103. 



