384 proceedings: botanical society 



during each of the major oscillations of the western shore line of the 

 Montana sea, together with the inference that the important sandstones 

 in the Montana group were laid down as near-shore or beach sands, and 

 only during recessions of the sea, was pointed out on the diagram. 



Frank L. Hess, Secretary. 



THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The ninety-seventh regular meeting of the Botanical Society of Wash- 

 ington was held in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club, Tuesday, 

 May 5, 1914, at 8 P.M. Messrs. P. V. Cardon, G. P. Van Eseltine, and 

 A. B. Clawson were elected to membership. 



The scientific program was as follows: 



Prof. Chas. 0. Appleman, The phijsiulogy of the rest period in the 

 potato tuber (with lantern). (To be published as a Maryland State 

 Experiment Station Bulletin.) 



Dr. H. B. Humphrey, A recently discovered loose smut of rye (with 

 lantern). (To be pubhshed in Phytopathology.) 



Mr. L. H. Dewey, The common names of plant fibers. Confusion in 

 the names of textile fibers of vegetable origin causes uncertainty, finan- 

 cial loss, and injury to the trade. The name '*hemp" and its forms in 

 other languages is the oldest name used to designate a plant fiber. This 

 name is now used in many languages as a specific term to designate the 

 true hemp, Cannabis sativa, to which in all instances it was first applied, 

 and also as a generic term to designate all long fibers. _ This double use 

 is confusing. The name sisal is also being used in a similar double sense. 



The following suggestions are made regarding the choice of names of 

 fibers: (1) Names in most general use are to be preferred, providing 

 they are not misleading; (2) the same term should not be used to desig- 

 nate fibers from different kinds of plants; (3) one name should be used 

 to designate the fiber from one kind of plant, irrespective of the country 

 in which the plant is cultivated or the maimer in which the fiber is pre- 

 pared; (4) geographic names are objectionable in general terms; (5) 

 names that may be adopted directly in all languages are desirable; (6) 

 single words of not more than three syllables are best. 



P. L. Ricker, Corresponding Secretary. 



