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the scientific name, with or without slight modifications. The 

 study of the origin and significance of these names is an im- 

 portant branch of folk-lore, and they are not to be disregarded, 

 but it is an error to bring them forward to designate species when 

 exact information is meant to be conveyed. Ferns being so little 

 known, have comparatively few common names, so that tho>-e 

 who would understand what is written about them must of neces- 

 i sity learn the scientific ones. In America this presents fewer 



difficulties than seem to be imagined. We have only about forty 

 fern familes represented, and when one has learned the names 

 and characteristics of these, he has a new pleasure in being able 

 to refer to its proper place each new plant that comes to his 

 herbarium. As to specific names, one needs to know them only 

 as fast as he finds different species. It is as easy to begin by 

 learning the scientific names as it is to memorize a lot of manu- 

 factured "common" ones, and the former way has the added ad- 

 vantage of making the student understanding and understood in 

 the company of botanists anywhere. 



* 



The scientist, in his desire for exactness, has fre- 

 CONCERNING quently found it necessary to overturn long ac- 

 NOMENCLATURE cepted names and replace them with others, which, 



while they may be older in point of time, are cer- 

 tainly newer to the student. Admitting that the scientist is right 

 in his disposition of the subject, it is still pertinent for us to in- 

 quire whether these frequent changes are of benefit to our study. 

 That the attempt to keep pace with modern methods in nomen- 

 clature tends to produce students of names, rather than students 

 of plants, can scarcely be doubted. Nor can it be denied that the 

 beginner, confronted with two or three different names for the 

 same plant in as many different volumes, is likely to form an 

 erroneous opinion of such study, and perhaps be deterred from 

 entering upon it at all. Every additional change makes the con- 

 fusion greater for all save the advanced student. It may be fairly 

 asked, then, why those who love flowers and ferns for their edu- 

 cational or esthetic value should bother with synonomy. If the 

 names by which we became acquainted with them are employed, 

 all will understand to what plants they refer, and thus the student 

 of ferns who objects to abandoning the old names may continue 

 to use them conscious of the fact that he is not using the latest 

 terminology, but is understood, nevertheless. 



