RARE AND NOTABLE PLANTS 



Bordering York road, above Logan 

 Station, is "Clearfield," now "Fair- 

 field," a plantation which Henry 

 Drinker purchased in 1794, and so 

 named because "James Fisher has a 

 place that has been called 'Newing- 

 ton' for many years, 'twas thought 

 best to change the name," wrote Eliz- 

 abeth Drinker in her entertaining 

 "journal." 



This plantation or farm was held for 

 two years by the Drinkers, its mis- 

 tress delighting in its occupation and 

 rewards, recording its cherries ripe 

 May 17; describing an odd tulip (tu- 

 lipa gesneriana), which grew in its 

 garden, a plant "with 8 leaves, which 

 I look upon as a curiosity, never hav- 

 ing seen one before with more than 

 6 leaves," and continuing she noted, 

 "a very beautiful place it is, how de- 

 lighted and pleased would many wo- 

 men be with such a retreat." 



The beauty of Clearfield was appre- 

 ciated by successive owners and care 

 was taken for its preservation. Al- 

 though a railroad has cut the place in 

 sections, and its collections are deplet- 

 ed, it yet preserves suflficient of merit 

 to attract the most superficial plant ob- 

 server. Here at the old mile-stone — 



28 



