320 
It seems the universal experience that scientific investigation 
cannot be well accomplished without a distinct and sufficient 
nomenclature. The lack of precise names for cultivated plants 
has served to discourage study, and to discredit much of the work 
which has been inefficiently attempted. Systematic botanists at 
present seem to endeavor to mass divergent forms into a common 
species. As valuable as this attempt may be for wild plants, yet 
when applied to cultivated plants the tendency is to form groups 
too unwieldy for the purpose of*those who would study into 
causes and effects of changed environments. For the successful 
study of plants of economic relation and great variability there is 
need of a precise system of nomenclature, and the only at present 
requisite is the absolute and ready delimitation of groups under a 
name system approved by botanists, and which shall not become 
perverted by popular use, as is the likelihood with vernacular 
names. | In the present jejune condition of agricultural botany we 
“May properly leave for future discussion those questions relating 
to genealogy, and be satisfied with a system that is accurate and 
convenient, and which shall enable us to record observations and 
results of study in a form available for use.’ I have hence sought 
for an improved nomenclature for maize, and the longer acquail- 
tance I have had with my groups the more justified | am in my 
belief that in convenience and availability they leave but little to 
be desired. 
From a botanical standpoint, I am disposed to accept its 
/unicata as a primitive form, from which are derived: 24 everla, 
the pop corns; Zea indurata, the flint corns; Zea indentata, the 
dent corns; Zea amylacea, the soft corns; Zea saccharata, the 
sweet corns; and Za amyleasaccharata, the starchy-sweet COM> 
Each one of five of these species furnishes three well defined 
sub-species, with parallel relationshin throughout. Thus, sub- 
species A, the kernel broader than deep ; sub-species B, the kernel 
as broad as deep; sub-species C, the kernel much deeper than 
broad. All my collections concur towards the belief that climate : 
relations are more evident in these sub-species than in the species 
themselves. With the possible exception of the dent corns and 
the starchy-sweet, for which but one locality is as yet know? 
climatic range and adaptability seem about the same, but in » ee 
the. 
