110 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 
materials. Usually their collections of medicinal plants are com- 
paratively small, but those which are obtainable are of high 
quality, and correctly classified. The liberal spirit of some of 
these stations is now restricted in some instances by government 
control. Such is the case with the buchu (Barosma betulina) of 
South Africa. To obtain seeds of this form direct from the Trans- 
vaal a long and tedious routine of grants, permits, etc., is necessary 
before they are allowed to be sent out of the country. On the 
other hand, such places as the Jamaica Public Gardens, Jamaica, 
the Kew Royal Gardens near London, England, the Royal Botanic 
Garden of Calcutta, India, the Botanic Garden and Museum of 
Natural History of Para, Brazil, the Botanic Garden at George- 
town, British Guiana, and many others in foreign localities 
are usually willing to exchange or contribute materials for experi- 
mental purposes. Of no less distinction and willingness in this 
respect are the gardens at New York and St. Louis, the Office of 
Seed and Plant Introduction, and the Bureau of Plant Industry 
of the United States Department of Agriculture. However, it 
frequently happens that these excellent and widely separate 
stations fail to have the materials desired. At present, this 
condition exists with some unusually desirable species of the genus 
Artemisia. 
V 
Commercial seedsmen and nurserymen have so far proven the 
best sources of supply, though they do not always maintain the 
highest standards of nomenclature. It is encouraging in this 
respect to note a growing tendency on their part to list more of 
their materials under the Specific technical names. However, 
great numbers of varietal or trade names are annually introduced 
through these channels, which cause much confusion and un- 
certainty. Sooner or later many of these must be reduced to 
synonymy. Much time and energy is consumed in varietal tests 
for determining these synonyms, and any movement which will 
reduce their number must be greatly appreciated. What is most 
desired in this respect is the retaining of the native and introduced 
forms under their original names, or at least the recording of 
varieties in such a manner that the original parents can be traced, 
and the pedigrees of the supposed new forms accurately obtained- 
