THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 81 



town incorporated in 1639) on Tuesday, July 7, 1881. 

 The forenoon was devoted to a ramble in the woods under 

 the guidance of John H. Sears. At the afternoon session 

 in the Town Hall, Mr. Sears exhibited the plants collected 

 during the day, with appropriate and instructive remarks. 

 Miss Mary N. Plumer of the State Normal School, Salem, 

 read a very interesting and able paper on " The Dissemi- 

 nation of Seeds." Rev. John Pike, of Rowley, Rev. G. 

 M. Harmon, of Peabody, Rev. Charles C. Bruce, of 

 Rowley, and Hon. N. A. Horton, of Salem, followed, 

 pleasantly alluding to several topics suggested by the 

 place and the occasion. 



Second meeting. At Marblehead Neck, Wednesday, 

 August 3, 1881. Mr. John H. Sears, of Salem, Hon. J. 

 J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, Prof. E. S. Morse, and 

 Hon. W. D. Northend, both of Salem, took part in the 

 exercises of the afternoon session. 



Third meeting. At Saugus, Wednesday, August 30, 

 1881. Mr. John H. Sears exhibited and described several 

 specimens of plants collected during the forenoon ramble. 

 Prof. H. B. Adams read a paper on "The Commons and 

 Commoners of Salem." Dr. J. W. Goodell, of Lynn, 

 and Mr. E. P. Robinson, of Saugus, presented communi- 

 cations of historic interest. 



Fourth meeting. At Boxford, Saturday, Oct. 8, 1881. 

 At the afternoon session, Rev. William P. Alcott, of 

 Boxford, presented a collection of introduced plants found 

 in the vicinity of a wool-scouring establishment, .and has 

 ' since prepared a valuable communication on the same, 

 which is printed in the Bulletin. Mr. John Robinson 

 and others took part in the exercises. 



Fifth meeting. M Chelsea, Friday, October 14, 1881. 

 The party after visiting the "Art Tile Works" of the 



ESSKX INST, BULLETIN, VOL. XIV. 6 



