122 



It is a pity the Bulletin cannot see its way to ignore 

 the name Dryopteris as a synonym for Nephrodium or 

 Lastrea. I have pointed out more than once the ill- 

 founded nature of it. and the consequent absurdity of 

 adding to the synonymic confusion by its adoption. On 

 page 55 in the " Index to Recent Literature " this confu- 

 sion is exemplified by reference to Nephrodium Mix-mas 

 in Vermont (Brainerd), and Dryopteris filix-mas in Ver- 

 mont (Hazen), both obviously relating to the same thing. 

 — Chas. T. Druery, London, England. [Mr. Druery 

 should remember that 'we have in this country a party of 

 radicals who take themselves quite seriously and use 

 Dryopteris on all occasions. Ever since they went off on 

 this tangent we and others have labored to show them 

 the error of their ways, but some of them have replied, 

 " What do we care about the Old World ? We cannot 

 let the rest of the world interfere in an American nomen- 

 clature." If they insisted on Dryopteris only, we should 

 not so seriously object, but think of Filix and Matteuccia 

 and Ornithopteris! Last year the Vienna Congress 

 spoiled their nonsensical doubling of the generic name, 

 such as Phegopteris Phegopteris, but it would take an 

 Act of our National Congress to make them desist from 

 changing names entirely. It is not likely that the radical 

 names will ever become common in America, and for the 

 same reason that a dog wags his tail. The dog wags his 

 tail because the tail cannot wag the dog! — Ed.] 



Cause of Rusted Fronds. — The cultivated ferns in the 

 Joliet and the Chicago parks are browned or rusted in 

 the early spring. The cold rainy nights seem to do this. 

 The sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) is the first to be 

 attacked for the last half dozen seasons at least. The 

 native ferns suffer most. Following Onoclea will be both 

 species of Cystoptcris, Adiantum pedatum, Asplenium 

 thelypteroides and A. fflix-fcemina in their order. The 

 fronds attacked die down and new fronds usually take 

 their places later. Can any suggest a cure? — James H. 

 Fcrriss, Joliet, III. 



