PLANTS OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. 35 



the same methods. In a great many particulars the recent botani- 

 cal codes are already in accord with those framed by zoologists. 

 The principal points in which they differ are as follows : 



I. The Vienna Code believes in a list of generic "Nomina Con- 

 sei-venda" which shall be excluded from the operations of the 

 law of priority. Such reservation is not allowed by the Ameri- 

 can or the Zoological Codes, and is contrary to the basic prin- 

 ciple of our rules governing nomenclature. 



II. The Vienna Code does not recognize the principle of types 

 which constitutes the only possible basis for a stable nomencla- 

 ture. 



III. The Vienna Code places species and sub-species on differ- 

 ent planes, so that a plant may bear one name if it is recognized 

 as a species and another if it is called a sub-species. This plan 

 was long ago rejected by zoologists and was not adopted by the 

 original American Botanical Code, although the later one has 

 followed the Vienna Code in this respect, a distinctly retrograde 

 step, in the opinion of the writer. 



In the present report no attempt has been made to revise the 

 nomenclature. The names given in Britton's Manual have been 

 adopted except where changes have been suggested in subse- 

 quent publications. In such instances an investigation has been 

 made into the merits of the proposed change and a decision 

 reached in accordance with the American Botanical Code, except 

 in the treatment of species and sub-species in separate categories, 

 a most pernicious rule which botanists will in all probability ulti- 

 mately reject. The original spelling of each name has also been 

 followed except in the case of obvious typographical errors, and 

 all specific names have been written with a lower case initial let- 

 ter, according to the custom prevalent among zoologists, while 

 only one authority, the authority of the specific or subspecific 

 name has been given. 



In the matter of genera considerable diversity of opinion exists 

 as to how many it is desirable to admit, but no departure has here 

 been made from those recognized in Britton's Manual. The ques- 

 tion is wholly one of individual opinion and involves the problem 

 of just what use we propose to make of technical nomenclature. 

 The more sub-genera we raise to generic rank the less meaning 



