38 FIELD MEETING AT BRADFORD. 



The President introduced Mr. George D. Phippen as 

 one who joined the Institute fifty years ago, and who was 

 to-day its Curator of Botany and its Treasurer. Mr. Phip- 

 pen read a paper of value and interest entitled, " The 

 Helianthus and Kindred Genera." 



Mr. Phippen said he had chosen for his subject the Ge- 

 nus Helianthus and allied plants, having had it suggested 

 by the interest that has been given of late, perhaps unwit- 

 tingly, to these striking but rather coarse flowers, and also 

 by their popular use for personal adornment. These and 

 other composite flowers are being largely used for that 

 purpose, and their selection has extended from the lowly 

 daisy or day's-eye, to 



"The sunflower that turns to her god when he sets, 

 The same look which she turned when he rose." 



this pretty poetical conceit is not, however, borne out on 

 investigation. 



We have no true native daisy in this country, but several 

 of the flowers much used in the manner described, being fas- 

 tened iii copious bunches upon the dress, are called by the 

 name of daisy, such as Golden daisy, Michaelmas daisy, 

 Ox-eye daisy, etc. That brilliant intruder from the west 

 now so common in the grass-lands of New England, Rud- 

 beckia hirta, is a favorite in this way, and has nearly 

 usurped the name of "Ox-eye daisy," which rightfully 

 belongs to our wild Chrysanthemum or white weed, Leu- 

 canthemum vulgare. May we not, therefore, name this 

 contagious fancy, which will have its day, the "Daisy craze" 

 reminding one of Dryden's troop of knights and dames 

 who joined the chorus of the ladies' song : 



"And still at every close, she would repeat 

 The burden of the song, The daisy is so sweet ! 

 The daisy is so sweet !" 



The sunflower tribe of plants with their bold yellow 



