1897.] Recent Literature. 311 
the scientific nature of the work done in the United States Department 
of Agriculture one would have to do no more than compare the book be- 
fore us with the publications from the same division a few years ago. 
It is a source of much gratification to American botanists that the 
botanical publications made by the general government are of the high- 
est character, ranking equal to if not above similar publications from 
any other country. 
Mr. Fernow himself writes the introduction, in which he makes some 
very pertinent remarks concerning the matter of botanical nomencla- 
ture, indicating very clearly the position which he occupies in the 
nomenclature controversy. He states the matter very concisely as fol- 
lows: “ The essential basis upon which the revision has been made is 
the so-called ‘law of priority,’ i. e., for species and varieties the specific 
or varietal name has been taken up which was first used by the author 
who first described the plant, and for genera the first established gen- 
eric name either alone or in combination with a type specific name. In 
order to avoid obscurity and uncertainty, the publication in which for 
the first time the binominal nomenclature was used persistently, 
namely, Linnaeus’s Species Plantarum (first edition, 1753) has been 
made the starting point, in accordance with an expression of the 
botanists of the Botanical Club of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science. Objections have been made to the injustice 
committed in ignoring earlier names; the objectors overlook that it is 
not a matter of justice primarily, but of expediency, which leads to the 
adoption of the law of priority, and it would be inexpedient to go back 
to an earlier date than the one which firmly establishes our present sys- 
tem of notation.” 
An examination of Mr. Sudworth’s work shows that he has done it 
with much thoroughness. The citations are very full, and the excel- 
lent plan is followed throughout of appending to each citation its date. 
After a full citation of synonyms the various common names used in 
different parts of the country are given. This at once shows that what 
every botanist has believed is true as to the unreliability of such names. 
Thus we find that the Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) bears the following 
names: Balsam Fir, Balsam, Canada Balsam, Balm of Gilead, Balm 
of Gilead Fir, Blister Pine, Fir Pine, Fir Tree, Single Spruce, Silon 
Pine, and Sapin. The Plane Tree (Platanus occidentalis) is known as 
Sycamore, Buttonwood, Buttonball Tree, Buttonball, Plane Tree and 
Water Beech. 
The following examples will show how the species are treated, and 
will convince everyone of the great usefulness of the work. 
