IRbofcora 



JOURNAL OF 



THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 



Vol. 18. October, 1916. No. 214. 



SOME HISTORICAL DATA REGARDING THE SWEET BAY 

 AND ITS STATION OX CAPE ANN. 



George G. Kennedy. 



[During the preparation of the current installment of the Reports on the 

 Flora of the Boston District the Committee in charge of this work of the New 

 England Botanical Club received the suggestion that as Magnolia virginiana 

 L. — a species long familiar under the now discarded name of M. glauca L. — 

 was included in this section of the catalogue and as the circumstances regard- 

 ing the discovery of its isolated and highly interesting station near Gloucester, 

 Massachusetts, had been the subject of some doubt and controversy, it would 

 be desirable at this time to assemble the facts concerning the unhappily 

 vanishing northeastern colony of this noteworthy plant — one of the rarest 

 in the flora of New England. Acting upon this excellent suggestion the 

 Committee applied to Dr. George Golding Kennedy, who was known to have 

 information upon the subject. 



At the request of the Committee and from his own extensive botanical and 

 historical library, rich in Americana, Dr. Kennedy has most kindly sought 

 out and brought together many references to the Sweet Bay. While he 

 disclaims originality in his article it is confidently believed that the facts here 

 assembled from sources, several of which are rare and accessible to few, will 

 prove decidedly welcome to the readers of Rhodoua. Their points of chief 

 interest are in fixing the date at which the station was first noticed, as well as 

 in clarifying the identity of the discoverer; also in placing on record the 

 condition of the colony at different dates within recent decades. It is hoped 

 that more general knowledge of the history and biological interest of this, 

 vanishing member of the New England flora will stimulate care in the pro- 

 tection of the remaining individuals and will promptly stop any tendency to> 

 deplete the station further. — Ed.] 



The beauty, fragrance and novelty of the Magnolias of the Southern 

 states early attracted the attention of the explorers, fanners and 

 botanists. 



