1921.] The Nomenclature of Agricultural Plants. 171 



Mr. Findlay,* who enumerates 148, among the potatoes which 

 he has himself tested, as being synonymous with either Duke 

 of York, British Queen, Abundance or Up-to-date. Of the i 

 48 have also been grown at Ormskirk, and in 38 cases there 

 is agreement both as to synonymity and type. A larger 

 discrepancy might have been anticipated, for at Ormskirk the 

 Synonym Committee does not pronounce a stock to be a- 

 synonym save with the concurrence of every member (six in 

 1920) ; thus, at Ormskirk there is a greater likelihood of a 

 stock being given the benefit of the doubt than where, as in 

 Findlay' s case, the decision rests with a single judge. 



Harmful Consequences. — Such chaos as has been shown is 

 obviously bad. It prevents the raiser of a good new variety 

 from reaping the full value of his discovery, as the name he 

 selects will be lost amongst the many new names that are 

 continually appearing. It makes it necessary for the seedsman 

 to list and stock many so-called different varieties of the same 

 kind of seed whereas probably half the number would he 

 sufficient so far as any real difference in the varieties is con- 

 cerned. It also entices the grower to purchase seed because 

 it has an attractive new name, whereas seed which will 

 produce exactly similar crops could in many cases be purchased 

 at probably a lower price under the name of its parent. 



It is not implied that wilful misrepresentation is habitual, 

 or even common, among British Seed Producers or Dealers, but 

 a very small minority can do a great amount of harm. In 

 general, our present position must be attributed to the complete 

 lack of any means by which a variety can be submitted to 

 adequate comparative test before it is put on to the market. 

 No single firm could possibly undertake the highly technical 

 tests which would be necessary to ensure complete knowledge 

 concerning its productions, and even if the attempt were made, 

 such a firm would only penalise itself to the advantage of its 

 less careful competitors. 



Nevertheless immediate action is called for. The present 

 situation is undesirable, as worthless or inferior varieties are 

 being kept alive when they deserve to die, and they are 

 continuing to occupy land which should he growing more 

 valuable productions. 



Remedial Measures Abroad. — It is recognised that the 

 evidence given concerning our British crop- is nol conclusive, but 



* Win. M. Findlav, " Potato Synonyms. The Scottish Journal nf Ayricul- 

 turr. April, 1920, pp. 202-207. 



