diff --git a/include/boost/date_time/period.hpp b/include/boost/date_time/period.hpp
index 4f838fe..7d46a5f 100644
--- a/include/boost/date_time/period.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/date_time/period.hpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace date_time {
     bool is_after(const point_rep& point) const;
     period intersection(const period& other) const;
     period merge(const period& other) const;
-    period merge_inclusive(const period& other) const;
+    period hull(const period& other) const;
   private:
     point_rep begin_;
     point_rep last_;
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ namespace date_time {
     return period<point_rep,duration_rep>(begin_,begin_); // no intersect return null
   }
 
-  //! Same as merge for intersecting periods, inclusive merge otherwise.
+  //! Combine two periods with earliest start and latest end.
   /*! Combines two periods and any gap between them such that 
    *  start = min(p1.start, p2.start)
    *  end   = max(p1.end  , p2.end)
@@ -334,12 +334,11 @@ namespace date_time {
   template<class point_rep, class duration_rep>
   inline
   period<point_rep,duration_rep>
-  period<point_rep,duration_rep>::merge_inclusive(const period<point_rep,duration_rep>& other) const 
+  period<point_rep,duration_rep>::hull(const period<point_rep,duration_rep>& other) const 
   {
     point_rep start = min(begin_, other.begin_);
     point_rep last   = max(end(), other.end());
     return period<point_rep,duration_rep>(start, last);
-      
   }
 
 
diff --git a/test/gregorian/testperiod.cpp b/test/gregorian/testperiod.cpp
index fb98e60..7090e07 100644
--- a/test/gregorian/testperiod.cpp
+++ b/test/gregorian/testperiod.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2001 CrystalClear Software, Inc.
+/* Copyright (c) 2001, 2003 CrystalClear Software, Inc.
  * Disclaimer & Full Copyright at end of file
  * Author: Jeff Garland 
  */
@@ -82,19 +82,14 @@ int main()
   date_period r4(date(2000,Jan,5), date(2000,Jan,10));
   check("[5 -10) merge [6-9)  -> [5-10)", i1.merge(i5) == r4);
 
-  check("[5-10) merge_inclusive [1-7)  -> [1-10)", 
-        i1.merge_inclusive(i2) == r3);
-  check("[1-7)  merge_inclusive [7-10) -> [1-10)", 
-        i2.merge_inclusive(i4) == r3);
-  check("[7-10)  merge_inclusive [1-7) -> [1-10)", 
-        i4.merge_inclusive(i2) == r3);
-  check("[1-15)  merge_inclusive [1-7) -> [1-15)", 
-        i3.merge_inclusive(i2) == i3);
+  check("[5-10) hull [1-7)  -> [1-10)", i1.hull(i2) == r3);
+  check("[1-7)  hull [7-10) -> [1-10)", i2.hull(i4) == r3);
+  check("[7-10)  hull [1-7) -> [1-10)", i4.hull(i2) == r3);
+  check("[1-15)  hull [1-7) -> [1-15)", i3.hull(i2) == i3);
+
   date_period i6(date(2000,Jan,1), date(2000,Jan,2));
-  check("[1-2)  merge_inclusive [7-10) -> [1-10)", 
-        i6.merge_inclusive(i4) == r3);
-  check("[7-10)  merge_inclusive [1-2) -> [1-10)", 
-        i4.merge_inclusive(i6) == r3);
+  check("[1-2)  hull [7-10) -> [1-10)", i6.hull(i4) == r3);
+  check("[7-10)  hull [1-2) -> [1-10)", i4.hull(i6) == r3);
   
 
   date bf_start(2000,Jan,5);
@@ -151,7 +146,7 @@ int main()
 }
 
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2001
+ * Copyright (c) 2001, 2003
  * CrystalClear Software, Inc.
  *
  * Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this software
@@ -162,7 +157,4 @@ int main()
  * representations about the suitability of this software for any
  * purpose.  It is provided as is without express or implied warranty.
  *
- *
- * Author:  Jeff Garland (jeff@CrystalClearSoftware.com)
- *
  */