Journal of Mycology 
A Periodical Devoted to North American Mycology. Issued ‘Bi¬ 
monthly; January , March , May , July , September and November 
Price , $ 2.00 per Year. To Foreign Subscribers $2.2 5. Edited and 
Published by ^ ^ KELLERMAN , Ptf. £>., COLUMBUS , Otf/ 0 . 
EDITOR'S NOTES. 
The proposition that the diagnosis of new species shall be in 
Latin has been discussed by many of the American botanists— 
and the verdict seems to be favorable. How it could be other¬ 
wise is not clear. And yet it is almost ludicrous if not appalling 
to contemplate the quality of ‘Latin’ that henceforth will be in¬ 
flicted upon the botanical world; remembering that a few mem¬ 
bers of the profession admit their ill knowledge of this idiom, 
and we suspect that some besides may presently betray noticeable 
ignorance. 
It is not an unmitigated reflection to say that only a few 
scientific men in this country are latin scholars, or are so familiar 
with this language that they are able to dash off a Latin de¬ 
scription as quickly as they would indite an English diagnosis 
of the species. Many have earned a reputation as botanists— 
in spite of ignorance in other directions of which possibly they 
might be accused. 
Why should the worker not then write what he has to say, 
with the necessary exactness and conciseness, using his mother 
tongue ; let the world have this product, but at the same time 
accompany the diagnosis with the Latin translation which the 
author himself makes or at least supervises. This would seem 
to be feasible so far as original publication of species in period¬ 
icals is concerned. In extensive compilations, monographs, etc., 
the Latin alone would be used. 
We make a slight innovation in the Journal by way of em¬ 
ploying black type for names of new species and for sub-heads 
(authors’ names) in the Notes from Mycological Literature, a 
plan to be followed in the future. 
Journal of Mycology, Vol. 12, pp. 185-232 , Issued Nov. 8, 1906. 
