40 
. . 
lence in the cases cited. During the past season I have made — 
people with scanty material without any or with litcle field exper- ; 
y 
is but one great thing that the botanist should keep in mind and 
_that is “What are the facts?” If he starts out with the thought — 
_ that species is only a name to conceal what never existed and pure- 
ly a matter of the personal equation then his work has no value. 3 
If he starts out with the humble attitude of the student, ready to — 
see what is before his eyes and ready to forego his theories when . — 
the facts compel it, then he may do valuable work and not till — 
then. If he starts out with the idea as many have done that the © 
more his name gets in print the greater will be his reputation es- ~ 
pecially if his name forms the tail to new botanical combinations 
he will land in Scylla and Carybdis where many are now. Some — 
_ seem to forget that one’s name attached t 
tion is a perpetual advertisement. of incompetence. With the — 
remark by Engelmann many years ago is in point J had been 
Pugatory for making too many species of Cactacez,” for he could — 
not distinguish the two species. 1f he were to suffer so in the next 
world for his errors we would have to resurrect Dante to make a2 
suitable Purgatory for some present day botanists I fear. oe 
The fundamental law in botany which we find everywhere — 
emphasized is that plan life must be in 
an 
