— 8i— 
represented several societies and institutions, and some were reported to 
have as many as eleven and twelve votes each, and three to seven votes was 
not unusual. However, the proportions remained about the same and the 
preponderance of votes rested with the Germans and Austrians. 
The first sessioh was devoted to preliminaries of organizing, and it was 
decided to postpone consideration of all questions pertaining to fossil plants 
and to the mosses and thallophytes until the next Congress, and that they 
be referred to a special commission to report in 1910 at Brussels. Six meet- 
ings were held, all well attended, and the results reached have been char- 
acterized “ as conservative but progressive." The priority of the specific 
name was adopted but the oldest generic name met with strong opposition 
and a list of four hundred exceptions, with the possibility of future 
additions and corrections, was adopted by vote of 118 to 37. Another 
surprising decision, that after January, 1908, all descriptions of new species 
must be accompanied by a short diagnosis in Latin, was adopted by a vote of 
125 to 56. Several remarkable things happened [during the sessions, one of 
which was the first attempt to use an evident majority by putting to vote 
without discussion, the first fifty-two articles of the code. This met 
with such strong opposition that it was abandoned, and the articles were 
each voted on separately. 
The most sensational feature was the protest by Dr. Otto Kunze against 
its methods, representation, votes, decisions and recommendations of the 
commission. This was printed in three languages, and on the fourth day Dr. 
Kunze appeared in person and was listened to for ten minutes, while he read 
his protest. When the allotted time expired he was called to order and took 
his leave. He characterized the methods as dishonest, and stationed men at 
the door of the offices of the Congress to distribute his circular. It was 
rather surprising to see how calmly the members accepted his criticisms and 
how strongly the majority felt as a reaction against his procedure. It was 
evident, however, that European botanists have not begun to understand 
the principal of generic types, nor the absurdity of an arbitrary list of excep- 
tions. 
The hope has been expressed that the Vienna Code will be followed 
until something better is accepted, but it seems evident that English botan- 
ists are likely to follow the Kew Rule and Kew Index, and that newer Amer- 
ican School will not give up a definite set of principles for arbitrary 
exceptions. New York Botanical Garden. 
LICHENOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS — III. 
Frederick LeRoy Sargent. 
(Begun in May, 1905, issue.) 
Once set free and in the presence of sufficient moisture, air, and warmth, 
the spores germinate by sending out one or more tubular projections (rudi- 
mentary hyphse) which branch and elongate until the food-supply stored in 
the spore is exhausted. Then if they do not come in contact with A Igae , 
