THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 39 



parted so tar tmm the original species as to need a signifi- 

 cant name to designated it. * * * Lettuce and cabbage, 

 for instance, arc not at all like their wild ancestors. * * * 

 Among domestic animals the cultigens are often still less 

 like the originals. * * * Somebody has said that the 

 pug-dog has varied so far tliat it is not only a different 

 species but a different genus! * * * Not to mention the 

 dachshund which is "a dog and a half long and only half a 

 dog high." * * * Illinois has a new law protecting some 

 of the wildflowers. * * * If you knowingly buy or sell 

 any bloodroot or columbine taken from the lands of another 

 in this State you may have to pay a fine of $100. * * * 

 Among other plants protected is the insignificant Trillhtiit 

 sessile. * * * Cypripediuui hirsutuni is also included 

 among protected specimens Init the law will have to be amend- 

 ed before it will protect any plant by this name. * * * 

 P)ritton calls the yellow ladv-slipper Cypripeduiiii Idrsutinn 

 and Gray bestows the same name on the tall pink and white 

 species. * * * Here is a good chance for the botanist 

 to be called in as an expert witness. * * * ^ j^g^y text- 

 book and manual of botany for beginners by the editor of 

 this magazine is soon to appear. * * * Jts claim to dis- 

 tinction it that by its use one can learn all about botany with- 

 out a teacher. * * * Well, we shall see ! 



More than eight years ago, representatives of six impor- 

 tant .societies interested in gardening, acting as the "Joint 

 Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature" undertook the 

 herculean task of preparing a list of standard names of plants 

 "in the trade" w^ith a viewi to facilitating commercial transac- 

 tions. The results of their labors have just come to hand as 

 a volume of 458 pages with the title of "Standardized Plant 

 Names." This is a list of more than forty thousand entries, 



