122 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



logical formation of the locality and of Essex County in 

 general, the rocks along Parker river showing the oldest 

 geological formations of the county, while the sands and 

 marshes of Plum Island show the latest ; Mr. Sears also 

 spoke of the glacial period as connected with this locality. 



George D. Phippen was next called upon and he gave 

 some interesting information about the formation and de- 

 velopment of the common fruits. 



J. J. H. Gregory of Marblehead said he was an "old 

 timer" at the Field Meetings and was astonished at the new 

 ideas advanced by the younger men now in the field, and 

 said that he was inclined to go back to his books for new 

 instalments of knowledge. He believed that he was one 

 of the first to examine the shell heaps of this vicinity. He 

 complimented Mr. Sears for the work he had done in Es- 

 sex County, and hoped he would publish his results. . He 

 also believed that the Norsemen were the discoverers of 

 this continent centuries before the English came here, and 

 gave some reasons for his belief. 



Mr. L. L. Dame of Medford, a member of the Mid- 

 dlesex Institute, was requested to say a few words. He 

 said "Middlesex takes off its hat to Essex." Essex he con- 

 sidered the pioneer in historical matters. 



His remarks were upon the trees on the island in early 

 times. Most of the islands were thickly wooded, and he 

 deplored the extensive cutting away of the trees not only 

 on the islands but in different parts of the country. He 

 approved of the establishment of public parks and spoke 

 particularly of Middlesex Fells. Hoped that the islands 

 of our bay could be planted with trees. 



Mr. Gregory asked Mr. Sears to state what trees grew 

 on House Island off Manchester shore, the only island in 

 this vicinity which is covered with a healthy growth of 

 wood. 



