New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-01


After the capparis, and the better known wild
cinnamon Of South Florida, come the beautiful
gordonias, near relatives Of the camellia. Cor
donia Altamaha, which is popularity known as
Franklnia, has peculiar interest as tree rescued
by chance from determination. 1t was found by
Bartram along the Altamaha River in Georgia in
1868, and was seen there by DR.. Marshall in
1890, but since that day it has never been found
in its native haunts, and probably is not now
growing wild in the United States. All the trees
in cultivation have descended from the plants
or seeds collected by the Bartrams and Marshall
The story of this gordona suggests the probability
that other local species have quite disappeared
before the vigorous axes of the early settlers.
Fremontia. named after the explorer. who dis
covered it in 1916, is followed by the three
bass-woods, or tilias. which are among the most
beautiful Of our native trees. Every one who
has seen Tila heterophylla in the mountains OF
Eastern Tennessee wonders why it has never been
brought into cultivation. Professor Sargent truly
SAYS that 1.-THE contrast made by the silvery
whiteness Of the under surface Of its ample leaves
as they futter on their slender stems, with the
dark green of the hemlocks and laurcls, on the
banks of rapid streams, produces one OF the
most beautiful effects which can be seen in the
splendid forests of the southern Appalachian Noun
tans." The lignumvitae one of the most
beautiful trees of Florida. is next de-
scribed. after which come the representatives
of the Rue family, including three species of the
prickly ash. all Southern trees. the more widely
distributed hop tree tPtelea trfoliatal. the
helietta Of the Rio Grande Valley, the torch-wood
(Amyris maritima) of Florida. and the canota of
Arizona foothills and Southern California. Three
other little known trees of Florida and Texas
III. Al. ala iS
still found here and there on some of the Florida
Keys, and the volume closes with the hollies. of
which FIVE species, including evergreen ana
decduous kinds arc described.
This is an attractive table of contents, and
volume two, which will contain the locusts naples
and buckeyes, will no doubt prove of equal in
terest Indeed, we have trees enough to furnish
material of unagging interest for all Of the twelve
volumes until the work is completed; and that
not only for scientific but for general readers.
since the text is much more than a cold, botanical
description of the various species. The charar-
terstios which give them value for ornamental
planting, the quality of their woods and their
uses in medicine or in the arts fully set forth.
conspectus of the different species in each genus
is added, so that any one from the characters
given can easily identify the different American
species. An important feature Of the book is the
generic descriptions Every genus which has a
representative among American trees is de crlhed,
with some account of all the important species out
side of our boundaries. For example, the notes
on Magnolia contain a statement of the RANGE OF
the genus both in the present and in geologic
time with descriptions Of some Of the principal
Japanese and Chinese species. From this we learn
that Magnolia Campbell, noble tree OF the Six
kim Himalaya, is the largest of the genus, attain
ing in elevated subtropical valleys the height Of
90 feet The same abundant foOt-notcs and com
prehensive references are given here as in the
specific descriptions In the mention of the large
and beautiful Magnolia hypoleuca. native Of the
forests Of Japan, the reader is referred
to Garden and Forest" where this tree is figured
from a specimen which still stands near the East
River at the foot Of Eighty-fourihst, ana viii n
is probably the Oldest tree of the species outside
of Japan having been sent to this country in 1863
by Mr. Thomas IIogg The book. therefore, lie
comes practically general description Of the trees
of the North Temperate Zone and in its notes and
citations it introduces the reader 20 the most sig
nifcant illusions TO these trees which occur in the
literature of botany or of travel, while its bio
graphical memoranda and abundant reference 10
literature give it high historical
value.
The most interesting subject in the introduction
is the summary of former publications on Amer
lean trees, beginning with the Arbustum Amer
icanum Of Humphrey Marshall, published in 1888.
and ending with the monograph on the West Amer
lean oaks, which has just been issued by Pro-
fessor Greene In the preface there is also state
ment Of the law which Professor Sargent has fol
lowed in the nomenclature of the Silva" He
adopts in general way the rules now generally
approved in all branches of science, which recog
nize correct the Oldest published name Of a
species. In the application Of this rule, however,
there is some difference Of method as 10 the scle'
ton of specific names, and it is TO be regretted
that there is not universal agreement among
botanists 50 that this confusion may be brought
to an end. Most OF the changes made by Pro-
fessor Sargent will be generally accepted in the
line of the best scientific methods, and he is cor
rect in his view that the sooner the changes which
are inevitable are made the better. The only
question is whether some Of these changes are in
evitabe. The most serious revolt will be made
against the effort to supplant the name Magnolia
grandifora with the offensive one Of Magnolia
foetida. Magnolia grand,fora was the name given
10 this tree by LinnaeuS when il was first .epaIa
as a species, and it has stood without a chal'nge
for 1875 years. II has not only been accepted
with dissent by men Of science, but il has
become the common name of the tree
and is embedded in the everyday speech of the
people When it is remembered that the aim Of
scientific nomenclature is TO avoid confusion il
would seem to laymcn that a rule which admits of
no modification and makes necessary the uprooting
Of such a wellesta bshed name this. is for that
very reason, bad rule; and the case is more de-
plorabe still from the fact that there is a ques-
ton whether this change is demanded by "a strict
adherence TO the letter Of the law. Professor
Sargent has doubtless looked at this question from
every point of view and plainly he must believe
that botanical nomenclature is in an almost hope
less condition he never would have adopted so
extreme remedy.
But after all, trees themselves are Of more i'm
portance than their names, and tie appearance
of this book must be considered altogether timely
in view of the increasing interest in forests and
forest trees. Accurate knowledge must precedc
wise means Of forest protection aud forest man
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