36 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



light to prevent its drooping or dying from being transplanted at euch an 

 unfavorable season. The plant was labelled, " Native Heath, found growing 

 "wild within twenty miles of Boston.'* 



The writer, as Chairman of the Flower Committee, at once called the atten- 

 tion of the Committee to the plant, and notified a special meeting, to examine 

 the matter. The identity of the plant with the Scotch Heather was not for a 

 moment to be doubted ; but the assertion of its being found wild within 

 twenty miles of Boston, naturally met with no believers. 



This was so incredible that many good botanists were not slow to pronounce 

 it impossible, and there were many who saw in it only an attempt to deceive 

 and mislead the Committee. 



At the meeting of the Flower Committee the Chairman was instructed to 

 address a note to Mr. Dawson, requesting him to appoint a time to lead the 

 Committee to the locality of the Heather. More than a week having passed, 

 and no answer being received, the Committee, now convinced that it was an 

 attempt at imposition, passed a vote dismissing the subject from consideration. 

 A day or two after, Mr. Dawson called upon the Chairman, and stated his 

 reasons for his silence; it appeared the nurseryman in whose employ he 

 chanced at the time to be, had forbidden his communicating with the Commit- 

 tee, or conducting them to the spot, at the same time endeavoring himself to 

 find out the habitat, trusting thus, doubtless, by throwing every obstacle in the 

 way of the Committee, to avail himself of the whole merit of the discovery, 

 and doubtless reap pecuniary advantage by securing the whole stock of the 

 plant. The conduct of this person in thus attempting to control for private 

 ends the scientific investigations of a Society of which he was himself a mem- 

 ber, cannot be too strongly reprobated. It was also attempted at the exhibi- 

 tion of the Society to suppress Mr. Dawson's name, his employer substituting 

 his own, but it was voted unanimously by the Flower Committee that the 

 whole credit of the discovery belonged to Mr. Dawson ; and the Committee, 

 when at length convinced of the reality of the discovery, awarded to Mr. 

 Jackson Dawson a gratuity of ten dollars and a silver medal. 



It is proper here to state that Mr. Dawson's course has throughout the whole 

 affair been perfectly upright and straightforward, and that not a shadow of sus- 

 picion attaches to him of having attempted to deceive the Committee, or of 

 claiming that which did not belong to him. 



Mr. Dawson promptly appointed an early day to conduct the Committee to 

 the habitat of the Heather, and on the morning of Monday, August 5th, the 

 Committee took the cars for Tewksbury, (Mass.) 



It is well known to botanists that this region is very peculiar, and noted for 

 producing many rare and beautiful plants. The locality of the Heather is 

 about half a mile from the State Almshouse, on the farm of Mr. Charles H. 

 Thwing. Leaving the Almshouse on our right, the Committee took a narrow 

 sandy road, and in a short time came near the field ; a short walk brought 

 them to the spot, turning into a lane on the left hand side of the road. The 



