135 



Mr. George D. Phippen, of Salem, gave an interesting 

 discourse on the few plants that had been gathered, and 

 also on the familiar plants of the field and the garden, 

 particularly on that unwelcome class known as weeds. 

 For convenience he divided them into three classes, wild, 

 cultivated, and intrusive. Among the many referred to 

 he spoke of "woodwax," the seed of which was first sent 

 to this country in 1(529, to Gov. Endicott, and it was 

 described as eminently useful for coloring purposes. The 

 "white weed," with its traditional fame, is a common plant 

 with our early history. "Chickweed" is referred to by 

 the earliest botanists as suitable food for birds, has been 

 long known, and is wonderfully diffused throughout the 

 globe. The "nettle plant," from which good linen can be 

 made, was first introduced into England by the Romans, 

 and it is said, with more humor than truth, was used for 

 the purpose of thrashing each other to keep themselves 

 warm in cold weather, to which they were unused. Purs- 

 lain, charlock, ambrosia and others were referred to. He 

 also spoke of milkweed, the fibre of which has been 

 used for textiles ; and of the raising of hybrids and the 

 success that has attended the efforts in this direction in 

 the great variety of beautiful flowers and fine fruits, the 

 result largely of human agency, ensuring hopes of never 

 ending novelty and satisfaction. 



Mr. John Robinson praised the arrangement of ferns 

 which were placed in front of the pulpit, and spoke of 

 the kindness of the people in furnishing them. 



Prof. D. B. Hagar, of the State Normal School in 

 Salem, spoke of the pleasure which he experienced when 

 he saw men who, like a previous speaker, had some intel- 

 lectual pursuit in addition to his ordinary business life. 



