



1901] OPEN LETTERS 447 
student prefers not to go back further for his fern names than, say, the fourth 
edition of Professor Underwood's book or the sixth edition of Gray’s Manual. 
In doing this he is essentially adopting the brand of nomenclature advocated 
by Mr. Fernald, without attempting it. 
I am aware that in adhering to certain names regardless of anything but 
common usage the student is open to the charge of being unscientific, but 
this does not alter the fact that he does adhere to them. Moreover, by a 
very few changes in his nomenclature, he can come into harmony with the 
great majority of students who happen to be following practically the rules 
suggested by Mr. Fernald, and so avoid being unscientific. The whole 
question resolves itself into which style of nomenclature will give us stability 
and uniformity throughout the world, with the least change. Some indica- 
tion of how the tide is setting may be found in the fact that no less than 
three books on ferns to be issued in the United States this year will use the 
conservative fern names.— WILLARD N. CLUTE. 
