700 president's address. 



the descriptions after his death in his name. I admit that this 

 seems like an infringement of the golden dictum"^ " neA^er make an 

 author say what he has not said." 



Viewing the matter afresh, I am of opinion that Art. 50 is 

 least open to objection and should be followed. At the same 

 time I think if it were made too retrospective it would become a 

 dead letter. 



In some of my papers I have taken cognisance of a few names 

 which are unpublished (or apparenth^ unpublished) attached to 

 specimens collected b}^ Robert Brown, and some of the older 

 botanists, as a matter of expediency, as many of these specimens 

 have been widely distributed in herbaria, and clues as to the 

 identity of species, particularl}^ those in an exceptionally difficult 

 genus, are often valuable. 



In this connection, I understand that some English botanists 

 of the highest reputation will not quote names suspected to be 

 nomina nuda: I feel sure that this practice, which has the most 

 praiseworthy intention of reducing unnecessary names, may be 

 carried too far. In some cases names .ma}'^ be printed as an inti- 

 mation that further information in regard to the plants referred 

 to is desired. Some genera are so special in the intricate 

 character of their synonymy that the rigid rules of purists may 

 not always be expedient, as they may actually hinder the advance- 

 ment of knowledge. 



For exam.ple, I. B. Balfourf says: — " In the following list I have 

 given all the names of species I have been able to find, quoting the 

 authority and giving a reference to where it may be found. Of 

 many I know nothing save the name ; and it may be taken for 

 granted that a great number have no claim to be species; but I 

 have thought it advisable to follow the plan of giving all the 

 names at present when seeking for information.'' 



Specimens labelled in herbaria ma}^ be perfectly good species, and 

 it may be desirable to resuscitate these names to prevent the use 



* Alph. De Candolle in Bull. Belg. xiv. 1877, p. 482. 

 t " On the genus Pandanus." Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. xvii. 36. 



