10 



bulletins from the experiment stations should be sufficiently author- 

 itative to fix the priority of names properly published in them. 

 Unfortunately such bulletins have been very exceptional up to the 

 present time, but we may fairly expect some improvement in the 

 future. One shortcoming with station bulletins, considered from the 

 standpoint of authoritative nomenclature, is that they seldom publish 

 full descriptions, and still less frequently do they publish original 

 descriptions. This is largely unavoidable, since the nurseryman who 

 introduces a variety almost invariably gives the original description 

 with his announcement and advertisement. But there is evidently 

 an opportunity for experiment station horticulturists, by studying 

 carefully the descriptions and the nomenclature of the varieties 

 which they discuss in their bulletins, to make such publications the 

 means of establishing correct names of fruits. We can all remember 

 how certain names have become established through Prof. Bailey's 

 bulletins on Japanese plums, and through Prof. Watts' apple bul- 

 letins. 



I have just referred to the fact that original descriptions usually 

 appear in the nurseryman's catalogue, and with such descriptions the 

 original announcement of names. Just here comes in the greatest 

 practical difficulty. Shall such descriptions of new varieties be con- 

 sidered to be "publications" in the technical sense, and to fix the 

 priority of names ? It is evident that they ought so to be consid- 

 ered. It would simplify questions of priority in names, and would 

 make reference to original descriptions easier. The only difficulty in 

 the way is the looseness and carelessness which often characterize 

 such publications. Many nurserymen get out elaborate catalogues, 

 with the dates carefully given, with new varieties most painstakingly 

 described, and with names carefully selected. Other nurserymen an- 

 nounce a new variety with a very bombastic and ridiculous name by 

 sending out an utterly unreliable description printed on a loose sheet 

 of paper and slipped in between the leaves of an old catalogue pub- 

 lished several years previously. It is obvious that the latter announce- 



