180 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
Since the appearance of the papers of WARBURG, FLAHAULT, 
NILsson, and CLEMENTS on this vexed question of nomenclature, 
it could have been expected that some discussion would arise, but 
instead it seems as if phytogeographers were content with the opinions 
brought forward, although these are by no means harmonious. The 
object of plant geography is the study of the distribution of plants, 
and of the laws that govern this distribution, not wrestling with words 
nor philological hair-splitting. But it cannot be denied, as I have 
just said, and as is generally conceded, that this science needs uni- 
formity of expression; how to obtain this is the problem. 
The next international congress, to be assembled at Vienna in 
June 190, is to take this matter under consideration. Some of 
the foremost phytogeographers of the world constitute a committee 
which is to make a report and submit certain proposals that may oF 
may not lead to a solution of the problem. It is only the general 
principles, however, that can be laid down by any one botanist or 
any joint committee, because it is quite beyond the power of any 
one except the individual monographer to decide what expression 
may be necessary in his individual case. But so long as each one 
is allowed to do what he thinks is right, there will be no end of the 
present trouble. What we need is a good, clear system of wholesome 
general rules. The practical and gradual application of these must 
be left to the discrimination of the individual writers, who have 
describe conditions essentially different in different cases. The 
reader is then the judge whether the writer has succeeded in his 
application of the rules, whether his terminology is correct oT not. 
No permanent international committee is needed for the purpos’ 
of acting as a guardian oracourt. Ifa good code of rules for ia 
clature is laid down, it will be followed spontaneously by all writers 
of any consequence, without the fear of a court of judges. If the 
code is a bad one, it is not worth following, and will not be accepted 
in spite of any supervising committee, however great its authority: 
It must be remembered that no matter from what association 
individual such a law of nomenclature has emanated, it is and 
always be temporary. It is impossible to determine upon any rules 
that will stand for all time, because what meets the present needs 
will most likely not satisfy the next generation. How long, them 
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