8 



A few thoroughly naturalized trees are also noted, and natural or 

 artificial varieties and hybrids have been fully cited. 



Underneath the name adopted as correct according to the laws of 

 nomenclature referred to, whenever a change has been made from the 

 name usually found in current text-books, the text-book name is also 

 given, in different type. 



The selection of a vernacular name from the multitude of those in 

 use is much more difficult, especially since the same name is often 

 applied to many totally different trees. Thus, we have 12 Iron woods, 

 10 Junipers, Yellow Pines, 8 Balsams, etc., each referring to different 

 species and often to different genera. There are also many species 

 which have no vernacular name, not being recognized by the layman. 

 There is no law upon the basis of which a selection could be made. 

 The selection, therefore, had to be based on a few common -sense rules 

 as a guide and with the principle of conservatism, the only rational 

 one, in the foreground. A large number of correspondents were asked 

 to submit lists of names in common use in various localities. Upon 

 the basis of these lists the name used in the greatest number of locali- 

 ties has been given the preference unless it was also applied to some 

 other tree, when, as an interference had to be avoided, either another 

 name most commonly used or a name most descriptive and pertinent 

 was selected. When possible, and where no vernacular names existed, 

 a translation of the botanical name was taken, keeping, however, in 

 mind the "name quality" of the combination, that is, a combination 

 into the use of which as a name it would be natural to fall. 



In some cases, where confusion or undesirable inconsistency was 

 caused by one name serving different genera, an attempt at segrega- 

 tion without too much violence to well-established usage has beeu 

 made, as, for instance, in the case of Cedar. This name is used indis- 

 criminately for Juniperus, Thuja, Chamrecyparis, and Libocedrus. 

 We have with consistency adopted the names Juniper for the first, 

 Arborvita3 for the second,- and Cedar for the last two, well aware that 

 it may be difficult to overcome the objection of the logger's practice, at 

 least to the name Arborvitae. 



To enable ready reference and pave the way for general adoption of 

 these names, not only a comj)lete index to all the common names in the 

 list, but a full synonymy grouped by States is added, so that the lay- 

 man or botanist can readily determine what plant probably is meant by 

 the native. 



Changes in practice can only come gradually and as the desirability 

 for change appears; then what is sensible and adaptable will be adopted 

 and what lacks in adaptability will fail of acceptance. This list, there- 

 fore, is to be considered only as a first step to improvement and will 

 serve as basis for further work of this Division. 



B. E. Fernow. 



