OPEN LETTERS. 51 
have not seen its validity questioned before. A considerable 
number of privately printed works have been issued in this 
manner, notably Mr. Bentham’s “ Plantae Hartwegianae” 
and Professor Greene’s ‘“ Pittonia.” The method has very 
obvious advantages, for with dated signatures the trouble- 
some questions arising from doubt as to a few days or weeks 
priority of names can in most instances be entirely avoided. 
N. L. Britton, 
Chairman Commitiee of Botanical Club, 
A. A. A. 8. on publication of the List of 
Planis of Northeastern North America 
CotumsBrA Connece, 9 Feb., 1895. 
In the absence of Mr. Jepson, whose question, propounded 
in our last issue, called forth the above, I may venture a com- 
ment or two on Dr. Britton’s reply. The second paragraph 
of the reply has nought to do with the original question and 
even appears rather gratuitous; for Mr. Jepson could not 
need to be informed of the custom of publication by signa- 
tures, nor to be shown its advantages. We may assume that 
he was well aware that the Plante Hartwegiane, Pittonia, 
and many other series of papers had been thus given to the 
public. He raised no question of the validity of such a 
method. The real question was, as to whether the particular 
“List” referred to could justly claim such publication. 
In the instances cited by Dr. Britton, there had been sub- 
scription and exchange lists; and the signatures were sent 
out according to such lists. Was this true in the case now 
under consideration? Were the separate signatures of this 
fifth volume of Memoirs of the Torrey Club distributed to 
the subscribers, or were they sent only to members of the 
committee of publication? If this last be really the case, 
there will be room for a grave question as to the validity of 
the signature-dates as dates of publication for this important 
volume. 
No author of a botanical document can successfully claim 
