12 



ERYTHEA. 



One generation cannot legislate for the next, particularly in 

 matters of the usage of language; and I expect that the time 

 is not very far distant when the old herbalists will have their 

 day and the Linnean standpoint will be upset. But I hope 

 that, so long as we are in the muddle, the new rules may be 

 adopted on all sides as a soporijfie for the present generation 

 if haply they wear that long.— L. H. Bailey, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Correct nomenclature, etc. 



Nothing which I have read lately upon the subject of plant 

 nomenclature has pleased me more than the concluding sen- 

 tences of Professor Bailey's letter, given above. But, that 

 he should deem it needful to suggest to me his expectation 

 "that the Linnsean starting point will be upset," is curious 

 enough; for I alone, among American botanists, have, for 

 seven years past, advocated the treating of Linnseus Just as 

 we treat other botanists, as regards priority in nomenclature; 

 and I alone, in America, have dropped some Linnsean names 

 in favor of earlier ones, and have, within the last year 

 (Eeythea, i. 2), announced a purpose of still further ignor- 

 ing the Linnfean starting point. Unless my friend at Ithaca 

 reads much current French and Italian botany, or unless he 

 has evolved out of his own perceptions, and originally, an 

 idea of the unsatisfactory character of all starting points, 

 where history has none, he is reiterating in my ear the things' 

 which he first heard from me. Anyhow, I am glad to be 

 able to record, in Eeythea, such opinions— such forebodings, 



if he prefer so to call them— from a man bo thoughtful as 

 Professor Bailey is known to be. 



Until last year, when Professor Underwood began to ex- 

 press some misgivings as to the Liuntean point of depart- 

 ure for generic nomenclature, I felt alone, and without 

 support. This year, with Professor Bailey apprehending- 

 apprehendmg somewhat unwillingly and deplorinaly but 

 nevertheless apprehe7id{ng~-t\mt the Linna^an starting point 

 IS to be upset," I can not but feel somewhat hopeful for the 

 cause of correct nomenclature in America; not the cause of 



y 



