1.921.] The Nomenclature of Agricultural Plants. 175 



plants leaves very much to be desired, little has been done by 

 Federal legislation to bring about improvement. It appears that 

 the truth is occasionally published concerning some of the most 

 flagrant cases in which varieties are being sold under incorrect 

 varietal names, but, in general, unless there is fraudulent exploi- 

 tation, even this action is seldom taken. Even where such facts 

 are published, little benefit can result, for in no cases are the 

 names of the offending traders given save in the unique instance 

 where such action is enjoined by Federal legislation. This last is 

 in connection with the adulteration of certain grass-seeds where 

 the law definitely directs that the names of the offenders shall be 

 published. 



Under.the auspices of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, systematic botanists started, in 1903, to compile a 

 classification of the wheats of the country, but so great was 

 the confusion which they found to exist that the project had, 

 temporarily, to be abandoned. This w T ork has now been 

 resumed by Messrs. Ball & Clark, who, as a preliminary step, 

 presented a paper before a meeting of the American Society of 

 Agronomy. They commence the paper by giving numerous 

 examples of the chaos prevalent in the nomenclature of this 

 crop, and then set forth a proposed code of nomenclature for 

 consideration and adoption by this body as representing the 

 interests concerned. A complete set of rules is set out, which 

 even go so far as to control the type of name to be adopted by 

 the originator, discoverer, or introducer. 



Pnre-line selections, hybrids, &c, which have superior 

 merit, even though not distinguishable by external characters, 

 are eligible, but unfortunately, the basis on which admission 

 would be granted or refused in such cases is not explained. 



Were it proposed, in England, to exercise an absolute control 

 over nomenclature, these regulations would demand detailed 

 study, but the present time is not auspicious for such a plan, 

 nor does it appear desirable to go to this extreme until other 

 means have been tried. 



Apart from any action by the Federal Government, each 

 State can take its own line in matters of Seed Control, and 

 all except 15 have done so. Their general object is to make 

 compulsory the labelling of all seed sold within the State, 

 such labels usually have to state the kind of seed, the name 

 and address of the seller, the purity, the germination, the 

 place of origin and the percentage of specified noxious weed- 

 seeds. A heavy fine is imposed should any information on the 

 label be proved to be false. 



