= Late 
a tice 
1901] BRIEFER ARTICLES 359 
before the first phase of the season’s growth is indicated not only by 
the full number of cells, but also by the presence usually of at least the 
normal number of needles (doc. ct#. p. 429). 
There are a number of trees of Picea excelsa on the campus of West 
Virginia University that were transplanted in 1899, several weeks 
earlier in the season than the Bloomington trees. While the size of 
the cells is not nearly proportional to that of the needles, the number 
formed during the spring following transplanting falls somewhat 
behind. The numbers in an average case are as follows: 
1898 1899 1900 
B piderniisiec cc. leaaet: 122 II4 140 
Outer parenchymalayer..| 91 80 106 
Mipdodetmii 5 Gao canes a8 18 25 
The whole question of the growth of the needle will reward 
more experimental study, and Meissner’s interesting paper should 
stimulate it. 
The accompanying photograph is of the plants described by me 
in 1898, and will show the concomitant dwarfing of stems and needles 
better perhaps than tables of measurements did.— Epwin BINGHAM 
CopeLann, Monroe, Wis. 
THE INSTABILITY OF THE ROCHESTER NOMENCLATURE. 
SINCE the publication of my article in the BoranicaL GAZETTE for 
last March* three communications have appeared which discuss certain 
details there presented. Two of these letters, from Mr. C. L. Pollard? 
and from Professor L. M. Underwood,? question the significance of 
facts presented by me in parallel columns ; while a third letter, from 
Professor N. L. Britton,* presents at more length than was done by me 
the practical reasons why the first species of a complex genus should 
not necessarily be treated as the type. These articles bearing directly 
upon the vital question of stability in botanical nomenclature canst 
leave the general reader in some doubt as to the exact force of certain 
arguments I have already discussed. It may not be out of place, there- 
fore, to ask for a brief consideration of the points thus newly 
emphasized. 
*BoT. GAz, 31: 183. Igor. 3 [bid. 31 : 365. 190F. 
* [bid, 31 : 285. 1901. 4Science 13 : 588. I90t. 
