LIST OF CONIFERS AND TAXADS. 



185 



to its history, synonymy, bibliography, or even to its character- 

 isation, is to prepare the way for endless variety of practice, cease- 

 less confusion of application, and unlimited difference of opinion. 



It is more than questionable whether anyone but a mono- 

 grapher, or one who has studied the plant or plants in question 

 and the literature relating to them, should have the privilege of 

 changing old-established names, simply on the ground that they 

 are not in conformity with legislation, however excellent, of more 

 modern date than themselves. In any case it would be better 

 that he should not lightly exercise the power. 



Cultivators are more guided by custom than by law, and such 

 names as Thuya Lobbii and Abies Douglasii, though open to 

 objection from a strictly botanical point of view, are likely to 

 remain in common use. Fortunately, the vernacular names, 

 which are usually so very objectionable, are in some cases well 

 suited for use, at least by English-speaking growers. Thus, 

 whilst the botanists are making up their minds which out of the 

 host of synonyms they shall adopt as the most appropriate, the 

 gardener may continue to speak of the common Spruce, the 

 common Silver Fir, the Douglas Fir, or the Lawson Cypress 

 without fear of being misunderstood. Such cases are not 

 common ; w^hilst the evils of so-called popular names are, in 

 general, so serious that their adoption, except in a few well-marked 

 instances, such as those just mentioned, is most undesirable even 

 in this country. They are, of course, mostly useless so far as 

 any other country is concerned.* 



Synopsis of Teibes and Genera. 



In the following list the genera are first of all mentioned 

 under their appropriate places in the Natural system. Sub- 

 sequently the genera are arranged in alphabetical order, as 

 being the most generally convenient. Within each genus the 



* As this sheet is passing through the press, a pamphlet has been 

 received from Mr. Lemmon, entitled " Approved English Names of the 

 Cone-bearing Trees of the Pacific Slope." In this Mr. Lemmon has coined 

 a number of names, some Hkely enough to become current, such as the 

 Torrey Pine, the Engelmann Spruce, &c. ; but what English cultivator is 

 ever likely to speak of the "Arizona Five-leaved Lumber Pine," or the 

 •'Chihuahua Top Cone Pine," or the "Canada Horn Pine"? Surely it 

 is easier to say, Finns Arizmica, Fimis Banksicma, or even Pinus 

 Chihtiahua. 



