THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE 



DECEMBER, 1837. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. J\''otice of some rare and beautiful Plants growing in 

 the vicinity of Plymouth^ JMass. By John Lewis Rus- 

 SEXL, A. M., Prof. Bot. and Veg. Physiol, to the Mass. 

 Hort. Soc. 



This ancient town, with which we have so many pleasing as- 

 sociations connected with the early history of this country, is 

 not less remarkable for the general information and kind hospi- 

 tality of its inhabitants than for the peculiar and interesting flora 

 covering its hills and surrounding the picturesque shores of its 

 numerous ponds. In a delightful visit, during the past summer, 

 for the purpose of botanizing, I was agreeably surprised in find- 

 ing very many plants of rare occurrence elsewhere. I acknow- 

 ledge with great pleasure the attentions of several individuals in- 

 terested in science, by which I was enabled to collect specimens 

 of much value, and to become acquainted with the locality and 

 habits of others more common. One familiar with the scenery 

 of Plymouth would scarcely expect to find much on its sandy 

 shores and barren hills. But, like the sterling virtues observable 

 in character, it needs only a more personal and minute research 

 to be undeceived. Each month is productive of floral gems of 

 no ordinary interest. Some of these I shall introduce to notice. 



Attendant on the first steps of spring, the pretty trailing arbu- 

 tus (Epiga;^a repens L.) is seen peeping from the midst of its 

 faded foliage, and recalling to memory the adventurous "May- 

 flower," after which it has been gratefully named. Like the 

 snow-drop (Galanthus nivalis) of old England, this hardy pro- 

 duct of a more boreal clime comes even amidst lingering snows 

 to greet the eyes of the earliest "culler of simples" and of the 



VOL. III. NO. XII. 56 



