PREFACE 



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In sending out this memorial of the Conifer Conference, 1891, 

 we would draw attention to the fact that it contains far more 

 than a mere verbal report of the Conference, Dr. Maxwell T. 

 Masters, F.R.S., and Professor Carl Hansen, of Copenhagen, 

 having promised at the time to recast their notes more fully. 

 This they have done most kindly and with infinite labour and 

 research, but not without some little expenditure of time, the 

 final sheets of MS. having only come into our hands in July, 

 and the corrections extending up to the 29th of September. 



Nomenclature. — The names adopted by Dr. Masters and 

 Professor Hansen may, of course, be relied upon as representing 

 the latest decisions of botanical science in England and on the 

 Continent of Europe respectively, though future research may 

 necessitate some still further slight alterations. However, the 

 hitherto inextricably confused nomenclature of Conifers may 

 safely be described as settling down upon the lines adopted in 

 this volume by these two eminent authorities, who, although 

 not yet in absolute agreement, will be found to approach very 

 nearly. After most careful consideration we have thought it 

 better to leave the names in the papers read at the Conference 

 and in the List of Returns almost unchanged, for had we altered 

 the various and varying names, erroneously used, into those 

 scientifically correct, the writers would in many cases have 

 hardly recognised the plants of which they were speaking. 

 Having set forth a correct system of nomenclature for Great 

 Britain in Dr. Masters' " Synopsis," we must refer all readers to 

 it for verification of names occurring elsewhere in the volume, 

 and leave it to time to bring about a slow and gradual reforma- 

 tion whereby the discarded names may become changed into 



