15 
summer of 1885 it continued in bloom six weeks. Last summer it 
bloomed but was soon ruined by drought. At the annual meeting of 
the North American Bee-Keepers’ Association held in Detroit in De- 
cember, 1885, a committee, of which I was a member, was appointed by 
the association to investigate the merits of a new plant being cultivated 
by Mr. Chapman, of Versailles, N. Y., who was present and repre- 
sented that the plant was of unusual value to honey-producers. Being 
instructed by you so to do, I met with other members of that committee 
at Versailles on the 28th of July. I herewith inclose a copy of the re- 
port which I prepared in behalf of that committee, together with a letter 
of Mr. A. E. Manum, president of the Vermont Bee-Keepers’ Associa- 
tion, which I presented to the North American Bee-Keepers’ Associa- 
tion at its annual meeting held in Indianapolis, Ind., October 12, 13, 14, 
1886. 
_ My experience with the plants furnished for observation at this sta- 
tion was nearly identical with that of Mr. Manum, Fifty-two plants 
arrived here by express, fifty-one of which came to maturity. Plants 
were furnished to Prof. A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich.; T. F. Bingham, 
Abronia, Mich.; W. I. Clarke, Guelph, Ontario, and Mr. Van Dom, 
Omaha, Nebr., each of whom highly recommend it as possessing un- 
usual value as a bee-forage plant. 
