No. 496] ASPECTS OF THE SPECIES QUESTION 223 



governing and restricting the making of species? I am 

 convinced that the next step forward in systematic bot- 

 any must he the placing of limitations upon the men 

 who are setting up new species, compelling them to con- 

 form their species to the conditions which make species 

 necessary. 



Of course this is not the time, nor is it the place, for 

 final action in regard to this matter, and, moreover, I 

 am certainly not the one to formulate rules for species- 

 making, yet I may be allowed to suggest some botanical 

 dicta or aphorisms as a short prodrome of a taxonomic 

 code. 



1. Taxonomy is a means, not an end; it does not exist 

 for the taxonomists alone, but for the whole body of 

 botanists. 



2. The first purpose of classification is to include all 

 individual plants in as small a number of species as 

 possible. 



3. That classification of the plants of the world most 

 fully accomplishes its purpose which gives an adequate 

 picture of the whole in the simplest form. 



4. Species have been invented in order that we may 

 refer to great numbers of individuals collectively, in- 

 stead of singly; therefore the number of species must 

 be far less than the number of individuals. 



5. Since we make use of species for the purpose of 

 saving labor in making the acquaintance of plants, it 

 follows that those species whose limitations are so faint 

 or vague that we apprehend them with difficulty have 

 no reason for existence. 



6. Scientific classification does not require that every 

 difference in structure and habit be made the basis of 

 a separate species. There must be room left for indi- 

 vidual variation, otherwise we should have as many 

 species as there are individual variations. 



7. The taxonomist should look for resemblances rather 

 than for differences, so that he may make fewer rather 



