Some Plants of Danvers and Wenham. 295 



cellular tissue was seen entering into every part, and devel- 

 oped in the asd, spores, spondes, and the like. Some exhi- 

 bitions of the larvae of water insects, of animalcules, through 

 one of Oberhaiiser's microscopes, modified by the employ- 

 ment of Ross's unrivalled object-glasses, from Mr. Cole, 

 closed the meeting. 



A similar exploration has been set on foot for a future day, 

 when other sections of Essex County will be critically exam- 

 ined. It is hoped that, among other objects of value, the 

 finer native plants may become better known, and some spe- 

 cies, scarcely ever seen, may yet grace the garden and become 

 subjects of horticultural interest. Should any thing of value 

 in this way occur, or this notice be deemed worthy your 

 pages, something more of the sort may follow. 



South Hingham, June, 1849. 



It gives us exceeding pleasure to publish the above most 

 interesting paper by Prof. Russell ; and now that our native 

 plants are beginning to be better appreciated, the valuable 

 information which it contains cannot be over-estimated. 

 Could the flora of every county of Massachusetts be as thor- 

 oughly investigated as that of Essex is likely to be, through 

 the exertions of the Essex Institute, the locality of every 

 beautiful and desirable plant would be well known, and 

 amateurs would thus have the opportunity of transferring 

 such as are the most attractive to their gardens. 



What among the whole range of our many native shrubs 

 possesses the exquisite beauty of that floral treasure, the 

 Andromeda polifolia? The Cape of Good Hope scarcely 

 possesses a heath which will surpass it in loveliness. Its 

 httle clusters of tiny bell-shaped flowers, of the richest pink, 

 wreath the delicate stems; and they are enriched by a glossy 

 foliage, whose under-surface presents that silvery shade so 

 admired in the well known abele; add to this its easy culture 

 in any rather moist soil, and it may truly be said to be with- 

 out a rival for attractiveness. Bigelow and other botanical 

 authors tell us, when describing our native plants, where some 

 of them may be found, but in such brief terms that we are 

 left almost as ignorant as if nothing had been said. For 

 instance, in Bigelow's Plants of Bostoti, Kalmia latifolia, 



