1886. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 19 
chanical sciences the importance of their nied has had a reciprocal 
influence upon the further development of them $ pure sciences; plenty o 
illustrations to the same end might be taken ici. chemistry, mineralogy, zool- 
ogy and other departments of learning. A case, analogous in some respects: to 
that under consideration, is the wholesome lian of veterinary science in this 
country during the last few years, a progress to be traced in so me degree to the 
great increase of thorough- bred and valuable stock whose owners demand the 
services of skillful and learned practitioners. The increased cultivation of rare 
and costly plants must in a similar way lead to a demand for additional knowl- 
edge in regard to various physiological, pathological and even structural mat- 
ters which have a bearing upon their growth and well-being. The important 
question of timber in this country has led to the admirable oo work of 
Professor Sargent in connection with the tenth census; in Germany, where the 
necessity of forestry knowledge has been still more keenly felt, much attention 
as been devoted to the diseases of trees, involving a careful investigation of 
the life histories of a number of species of fungi. Thus in many ways which 
the reader will have no difficulty in calling to mind does the market value of 
a class of objects have an indirect influence upon the recondite investigations 
ien C) 
fluence real and effective however, is a readiness on the part of those holding 
commercial interests to accept scientific facts and to encourage their discovery. 
In agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, etc., it is unfortunately true that there 
is great backwardness in seizing and a pits scientific results and methods, 
which hinders the advancement of those professions and at the same time fails 
to afford a needed stimulus to new investigations regarding plants and kindred 
subjects. Still there is hope of better us for PS future; the fashion for 
orchids, roses, chrysanthemums, or other flowers, may not now mean much to 
the botanist, and yet in so far as s any Hae rete is Seite exerted upon botanical 
science it is beneficial. 
Ir so HAPPENS that one pe - editors has been using for reference both 
the dispensatories alluded to “ R.” in an “open letter.” The opinion ex- 
pressed by him is amply borne ae by our experience. The descriptive terms 
botany are seer used and (Spain which are important are en- 
tirely overlooked. Of course it is to be remembered that the dispensatories are 
not written ae botanists, but for pharmacists and physicians, and this fact 
necessitates the use of somewhat less technical language. It is, however, a 
2 to be ihitseoes upon, that the absence of technicality ought not to mean in- 
uracy. One of the volumes referred to is especially negligent in the matter 
of quoting authorities for the scientific names of plants. This frequently ren- 
ts the identification of the plant named quite impossible. many changes 
are constantly being made in the nomenclature that it is not to be expected that 
such works as these should keep up with them, though an attempt should be 
made to use the best established names. But in the midst of such changes and 
for the reason that the names are foot 3 the Jeast that can be done is to 
quote the. authority for whatever name is used. When the next revision of 
these two very useful books is made, by all means let the editors use every en- 
