NO. 496] ASPECTS OF THE SPECIES QUESTION 



273 



it removes the grievous burden of a great multiplication 

 of names. It seems to me that the suggestions of Dr. 

 Bessey and Dr. Britton almost meet at this point. In 

 effect, it means to continue to name easily recognized 

 forms, calling them species if desired; and then by a 

 system of numbers to indicate the more refined distinc- 

 tions. This avoids the great multiplication of names 

 and secures an exact record. This method has been 

 developed so effectively in the cataloguing of stars and 

 books that it could be adapted for plants without serious 

 trouble. I would ask Dr. Britton how much this scheme 

 would reduce the number of published names. 



Mr. X. L. Britton : I do not know. Those that have 

 been published up to this time it would reduce probably 

 two thirds. 



Mr. J. M. Coulter: A reduction of the names to one 

 third would be a good start, and I think we had better 

 hold Dr. Britton to his idea. I think we can get together 

 on this suggestion, so that all botanists can recognize the 

 ordinary forms and remember their names, and the taxon- 

 oinists can record the more refined distinctions. I had 

 not heard of this proposition before, but at present it 

 appears to me to be desirable and workable. 



Mr. J. B. Pollock : I should like to say a word along 

 the line of work upon which Dr. Arthur lias presented 

 some thoughts to you, but I think we can go a little fur- 

 ther than Dr. Arthur did in his argument in regard to a 

 definite method of getting at species from the physiolog- 

 ical basis, and the people who are nearly ready to begin 

 that, I feel sure, are those who have worked with the 

 fungi from the cultural side. In talking with a number 

 of men. who are interested in that side of the work, in 

 the course of these meetings, I have been impressed with 



me in my work alone, that the men who are doing that 

 kind of work are feeling the absolute necessity of doing 

 something definite exactly along the line which has been 

 indicated by almost all the speakers here in a general 



