132 



Frederick V. Coville, and Mr. Kelsey, with the cooperation of the 

 Dahlia, Gladiolus, Iris, Peony, Pomological, Rose, and Sweet Pea 

 Societies, and the Seed Trade Association. The Catalogue " is 

 not offered as a new and different scientific system of nomencla- 

 ture, but rather as a sane and workable harmonization of the pres- 

 ent confusion." Its aim " is to make buying easy by providing 

 definite and uniform names, both scientific and ' common,' for 

 American horticultural commerce." Changes proposed by " bot- 

 anists and terminologists " will not disturb commercial and educa- 

 tional relations for a period of years, or until the Official Cata- 

 logue is revised. 



American Stains for Biological Work. — The Commission on 

 Standardization of Biological Stains, operating originally under 

 the auspices of the National Research Council, but now on an in- 

 dependent footing, has published a series of reports in Science 

 from 1921-1923. A circular of July 28, 1923, issued by the Com- 

 mission, contains the following statement : 



" In general it can be said, however, that American stains have 

 been found to be reliable. It seems, furthermore, that the prestige 

 of the German stains was largely unjustified. It proves that dif- 

 ferent batches both labeled the same and both obtained from the 

 same reliable German concern may vary greatly in their composi- 

 tion. Practically all of these stains contain a large amount of 

 inert materials and many of them are actually mixtures of various 

 dyes not indicated in any way on the label. This suggests that 

 such stains arc prubably merely textile dyes bought and rebottled 

 for biological use without any attempt at purification. 



" There are, on the other hand, two or three American concerns 

 at the present time who are giving a great deal of time and money 

 to the purification of stains for biological purposes and to testing 

 them as to their reliability. As these concerns are working in co- 

 operation with the Commission they are able to count on it to test 

 their products ; and as a result their stains are as reliable as is 

 possible to get them at the present time. The Commission is not 

 prejudiced against German stains but merely considers it important 

 to have domestic sources of such important articles as these and 

 believes that cooperation in the manufacture and standardization 

 of stains can only be obtained by dealing with companies that are 

 close at hand." 



