308 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLA'II. No. 1213 



disturb systematic botanical procedure. The 

 replies to this position are two : (1) We have 

 abeady admitted very many of them, even if 

 under protest in some cases; (2) is botanical 

 procedure to be competent to accept the facts 

 of nature? Whether we will or no, these cul- 

 tivated things will be known by botanical 

 names. What are we to do with Phlox decus- 

 saia? It may be a set of hybrids between P. 

 paniculaia and P. maculata, but we can not 

 order the plant from the nurseries under 

 either of these names. Referring the name 

 P. decussata to one or the other of the species 

 may satisfy the demands of synonymy, but 

 it does not dispose of the plant. It is a good 

 name for the group: why not use it? 



Naturally we must ha^e a formal and rec- 

 ognized system of taxonomy and nomencla- 

 ture. We should keep it pure. But may it 

 not be extensible? The interminable discus- 

 sions over trivialities of priority in nomen- 

 clature tend to seal up the subject as a closed 

 book, or as an ancient box of precious oint- 

 ments. May we not open the book or care- 

 fully lift the lid? 



I have no program. To-day I am only 

 asking questions. I would not interfere in 

 any way with the orderly procedure that we 

 have found to be good. I would disturb 

 nothing: but may we add? 



May we not admit the cultigen, under well- 

 considered practise of conservative and trained 

 botanists, defended with proper safeguards? 

 I am not thinking of mere variations, even 

 if well marked, but of important groups or 

 clans of known characteristics under domesti- 

 cation. If so, the gens should have standing, 

 which means that the name should bear record 

 of its author. Its name should have rec- 

 ognized botanical form, for cultigens are still 

 plants and of more or less coordinate rank 

 with other gentes known as species. While 

 falling under recognized botanical procedure, 

 might it not represent a category or class of 

 its own? In the manuals perhaps its name 

 would be set in a different type; or could a 

 designating symbol be used? Under the In- 

 ternational Rules, the cross-mark (x) pre- 

 ceding the name is recommended to distinguish 



hybrids ; this can not be applied to any extent 

 because records of hybrid origins are few; 

 it does not touch the great class of cultigens: 

 yet there must be some good way of distin- 

 guishing categories. 



We must assuredly try to avoid confusion, 

 but we do not accomplish this by avoiding the 

 facts. Horticultm*ists as well as botanists 

 are entitled to protection and precision. May 

 we not make names for certain cultigens? 



These may be troublesome questions, but 

 they force themselves on us. Is it not best 

 to meet them squarely, and provide a way? 



If we can not modify our practise in these 

 regards, there is no use of making a manual of 

 cultivated plants. L. H. Bailey 



SCIENTIFIC EVENTS 



THE RESEARCH COMMITTEES OF THE BRITISH 



INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL 



ENGINEERS 



Some particulars of the work of the research 

 committees formed under the direction of the 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers are given 

 in the report of the council for 1918 and are 

 quoted in the London Times. 



The alloys research committee has been oc- 

 cupied with investigations on various light ter- 

 nary alloys. These investigations have been 

 conducted at the Ifational Physical Labora- 

 tory with the assistance of the Department of 

 Scientific and Industrial Research from whom 

 the committee received a grant of £400, in ad- 

 dition to £800 paid directly to the laboratory 

 for the provision of special plant. The coun- 

 cil of the institution made a grant of £250 for 

 the year. The committee's eleventh report, 

 which would have contained the results of these 

 investigations, has been temporarily withheld 

 in the public interest. 



The committee on steam nozzles, which re- 

 ceived a grant of £100 from the council, has 

 been so fully occupied with war work that it 

 has been unable to construct apparatus and 

 carry out tests; but complete detailed working 

 drawings of the apparatus for measuring the 

 impulse of steam jets have been prepared, and 

 it is hoped that the apparatus may shortly be 

 put in hand. 



Dr. Stanton, with his special machine at the 



