FIELD DAY AT ASBURY GROVE, HAMILTON, THURSDAY, 

 JULY 31, 1884. 



IN the immediate vicinity of the place of meeting is 

 Wenham swamp, which comprises a territory several 

 miles in extent, and with its beautiful ponds and woods 

 and its diversified scenery has long been considered one 

 of the finest localities in this county in which to botanize. 

 Many of our rare and choice plants have here been found ; 

 and the collection made, some sixty years since, by 

 William Oakes and Charles Pickering, then young men, 1 

 have made it well known among botanists. Thither re- 

 paired many of those who came to the meeting in the first 

 train, and under the guidance of Mr. John H. Sears were 

 successful in their findings. It is very desirable that at an 

 early day, some of our naturalists should make a careful 

 exploration of this region and publish the results of 

 their researches. 



Other members of the party lingered about the grove 

 and took notice of the many improvements that have been 

 made within the past few years, and of the new cottages 

 which have been erected, replacing to a great extent the 

 old tents and cheap structures of the early days of the 

 enterprise. 



The noonday lunch was partaken of in the dining hall 

 at the grove. 



The aftern'oon session was held in the chapel, re- 

 cently erected. It was called to order at 3 p. M., by the 



1 The one entered upon the practice of the law at Ipswich, which he soon left; 

 the other, as a medical student in the office of Dr. A. L. Pen-son at Salem, 



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