Do7nestic Notices. 185 



tice,) has " bright, light green leaves, and the down of the seed is of a pure 

 white, round the bottom of which, the involucre contracts closely." Con- 

 sidering that we have here a shrub, attaining to the height of even twelve 

 feet, and of such unique character, its occurrence in our State may be 

 hailed with pleasure by all lovers of its Flora. 



It is described more particularly in botanical manuals, as a shrub anciently 

 dedicated to Bacchus ; though for what reason, we are not informed. Its 

 leaves are obovate and oval, incisely toothed near the summit, furnished 

 with a compound leafy panicle of flowers, and succeeded by very long silky 

 white seeds. 



Prof. Gray, in his Botany of the Northern United States, informs us of its 

 occurrence on sea beaches, from Connecticut to New Jersey, and southward- 

 And Elliott, in his Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Gcoroia, 

 mentions its being very generally diffused over the lower country of those 

 States ; preferring damp stiif clay land, but growing indiscriminately in 

 fresh or brackish soils. Flowers in September. — Respectfully Yours, John 

 L. Russell. South Hingham, Feb. 13, 1849. 



North American Pomelogical Convention, at Sy, acuse, N. Y. — We have 

 been greatly surprised to notice the course which has been taken by the Al- 

 bany Cultivator, and the Horticulturist, in relation to the second meeting of 

 the North American Pomological Convention, to be held in Syracuse, in 

 September next. We are not such sanguine believers in the great results 

 to be obtained by pomological conventions, as some of our friends, but if 

 any good is to come of them, the more that are held, the better. Our 

 cultivators are numerous enough, and our country extensive enough, 

 to admit of more than one convention, without interfering with each other. 



If, however, it should be thought, that but one National convention ought 

 tobeheld, why then we think that the one which was first in the field, should 

 have the credit of being so ; and, if its labors have been valuable to the po- 

 mological world, that it should not only be perpetuated, but receive the aid 

 and assistance of every cultivator in the Union. It will not be denied, that 

 the convention at Buffalo, last September, was the first national one ever 

 projected. Early in the spring of 1848, circulars were sent to the various 

 horticultural societies of the country, inviting them to send delegates to a 

 convention, to be held at Buffalo, and it was not till late in the summer, that 

 any intention was manifested of having another at New York. Had a 

 conciliatory spirit prevailed, they might undoubtedly have been merged in- 

 to one ; and such arrangements made, that they might have been held in 

 different cities, from year to year, thus obviating any objections to two con- 

 ventions, if such there in reality be ; but, from some cause, a union was not 

 attempted, and the separate conventions were held in the autumn of 1848. 



We had supposed, that, if there had been any feelings of rivalry or jealousy 

 between the two conventions of last year, that they had long since been for- 

 gotten. Such, however, does not seem to be the case, for since the issue 

 of the Circular, which we published in our last number, (p. 131,) an attempt 

 VOL. XV. NO. IV. 24 



