233 
Botanical Notes. 
Nomenclatural—_A_ document has recently been issued from the 
herbarium of Harvard University, accompanied by a letter signed 
by the curator of that establishment, objecting to the system of 
nomenclature adopted almost unanimously by the botanists of the. 
American Association for the Advancement of Science at meetings 
held in Rochester, N. Y., 1892; Madison, Wis., 1893, and Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., 1894, and recommending certain rules as substitutes. 
It seems desirable that this document be brought-before our botan- 
ists for their kindly consideration. 
The principles, or it may be better expressed, lack of princi- 
ples, which are here favored have, as a matter of fact, been most 
seriously considered by the American Association botanists for 
more than five years, and every one of them has been carefully 
weighed and found wanting in its application to a stable system 
of nomenclature. The proposed rules have, indeed, been framed 
to support what has recently been fittingly termed the “discredited” 
plan of nomenclature. Still it may be assumed that they will 
receive a certain amount of support from plant collectors and 
physiologists, at least until more books shall have been issued 
based on the rules which have been proven by long trial in other 
branches of biological science to give nomenclature the stability 
which is so necessary. The way for these has been paved by that 
magnificent work, the “Silva of North America,’ the most ex- 
haustive and elegant botanical publication yet produced in our 
country ; by several State and local floras; and by other papers 
too numerous to mention. The want of easily accessible descrip- 
tive floras, written on this very practical system approved by the. 
botanists of the American Association, is the only circumstance 
which retards its still wider adoption. There is every reason to 
believe that these will soon be supplied. 
