i897. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 221 



referred. These would, in many cases at any rate, be pleased to 

 meet their classes at the Gardens and explain practically what 

 hitherto they have taught only by means of pictures or diagrams. 

 A research-laboratory for advanced students would be an additional 

 advantage. Efforts in the directions we have indicated would tend to 

 ensure the continuance of the Gardens, and thus relieve the Council 

 from anxiety as well as benefit the public generally. 



The Registration of Plants. 



A Section of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges 

 has appointed a committee to consider the question of establishing an 

 office for the registration of plants in connection with the present 

 Division of Pomology. " The idea," says Science, " is to have some 

 one place in the United States where all plants placed upon the 

 market can be officially registered, numbered, and a description, 

 together with specimens of the bloom, seed, foliage, and fruit, placed 

 on record. When it is not practicable to preserve the original, 

 coloured casts are to be prepared, as in the case of citrons, drupaceous 

 and pomaceous fruit, as well as vegetables. In all cases where plants 

 are sent for registration, specimens of flowers, fruit, root, tuber or 

 seed must accompany the application. All vegetables must be 

 accompanied by a given amount of seed (to be determined) to be pre- 

 served for purposes of noting the duration of cultural varieties, the 

 influence of climate during any series of years or in any locality. A 

 further purpose of the seed shall be to grow plants for purposes of 

 identifying the sort." 



As usual, the practical people are ahead of the scientific, for 

 it is obvious that the objects of the scheme would apply equally to 

 systematic zoology and botany. They are : (i) to discourage the 

 duplication of names, and the re-naming of old sorts for commercial 

 purposes ; (2) to form a national herbarium of economic plants, which 

 shall be made up largely of type-specimens ; (3) to simplify the matter 

 of nomenclature ; (4) to aid the student of varieties as well as of 

 variation in plants under culture. The only clause that does not 

 apply to pure science is the fifth, namely, to secure to the originator of 

 a truly valuable variety some reward for his labour, the same as is 

 now accorded the inventor. How many more years is it to be before 

 we see international offices for the registration of new species of 

 animals and plants ? 



The Dispersal of Seeds. 



We referred a few months ago to the instructive and beautiful 

 series of specimens, models, and drawings of insectivorous plants 

 which had been arranged in the public gallery of the Department 

 of Botany of the British Museum. The room has lately been enriched 



