Rbodora 
JOURNAL OF 
THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 
Vol. 25. September, 1923. No 297. 
EMILY FRANCES FLETCHER. 
B. L. RoBINsoN. 
EmiLY FRANCES FLETCHER, whose name has long been familiar 
to New England botanists through its frequent citation in local 
floras, died at her home in Westford, Massachusetts, April 13, 1923, 
in her 79th year. Born in the same town January 17, 1845 and 
educated at Westford Academy, she was early attracted by the plants 
and bird life of her region. To these she devoted much attention. 
The interest lasted through a long life, doubtless contributing much 
to her personal happiness, as did her observations to the botanical and 
ornithological records of the area covered by her activities. 
Realizing the need of aid in the precise identification of her plants, 
she got into touch with that notable group of botanists of whom L. 
L. Dame, F. S. Collins, Dr. Thomas Morong, G. E. Davenport, Dr. 
C. W. Swan, C. W. Jenks, W. H. Manning, Dr. F. Nickerson and 
Mrs. P. D. Richards were leading spirits. These persons, busy in 
very different callings, were amateurs in the best sense, so far as their 
botanical work was concerned. Many of them were associated in 
the Middlesex Institute about 1881, and the preparation of a county 
flora became one of their earnest ambitions. 
This aim was realized when, after some years of preparation, the 
Flora of Middlesex County was published by Dame & Collins in 1888. 
In the preface of the work the name of Miss Emily F. Fletcher appears 
with those to whom thanks are extended for helpful co-operation. 
One of the particular difficulties in the preparation of the Middlesex 
Flora lay in the fact that certain portions of its territory were the 
seats of the woolen industry. About these, wool-waste was frequently 
used as a fertilizer, introducing many plants from very remote regions, 
