X. 



THE WALNUTS AND HICKORIES. 



The object of giving a latinized name to plants is, of 

 course, precisely that for which we give names to 

 individuals ; and the naming is done in the same man- 

 ner, in family groups. The scientific name of a tree is 

 printed as our names are in the directory — the surname 

 or generic name first. 



But as plants have been named by many botanists 

 who received specimens, perhaps at the same time, 

 from collectors in different parts of the world, it has 

 often happened that, unintentionally, the plant has 

 received two or more names, while later it was found 

 that the plants thus named were identical. 



Then, too, after many plants resembling each other 

 have been discovered, the distinctions by which the 

 lines of the species, the genus and the family are 

 drawn become more clear. Plants which were at first 

 placed in one genus, were afterwards seen more closely 

 to resemble another, and it has thus become possible to 

 re-arrange the families and genera of plants in more 

 natural groups. 



Of course this causes some confusion, but it cannot 

 be avoided until almost all of the plants in the world 

 have been studied by competent botanists, who shall 

 agree upon some exact rules by which plants shall 

 hereafter be named and by which all old names shall be 

 re-adjusted to conform to them. 



