No. 133.] 429 



Dr. Cliurch agreed with Dr. Underhiil, that it was not proper 

 for the Club to indorse the medical virtues ascribed to trees. 



Mr. Robinsoir. Said that the sumach grows large in some parts 

 of our country. He has seen rails split from the bodies of sumach 

 ti-ees, for fencing. 



President Tallmadge. Said its habit of growth wuth us is small, 

 a bush. 



Mr, Robinson. Some families in Newburgh have followed tor 

 a living — picking sumach. We import the Sicilian sumach to 

 the amount of sixty-five thousand bags annually, from that little 

 island. 



Col. Travers, of New Jersey. Its quality is superior to that of 

 America. 



Mr. Robinson. As to planting locust trees ■ burn heaps of 

 brusli and plant on those spots. They will grow well. 



^. Pell. It is well known that locust seed is hard to germi- 

 nate. The experiment of boring holes into the trees and putting 

 in sul^ihur, has failed ; it killed the trees, nine out of ten, and 

 we cut them down. 



Mr. Robinson. The naked sides of our rail roads presents 

 naked front, which ought to bear fruit. Let them be planted 

 instead of forest trees. 



Dr. Underbill. My constant desire is to attain facts of impor- 

 tance — the truth alone is wanted by us. I have no prejudice 

 against the Avild cherry tree ; the wood is fine for cabinet work, 

 but its singular property of attracting caterpillars is so great, 

 that I consider them a great injury to neighboring trees, sending 

 forth swarms of insects.. The wild cherry tree has on it a thou- 

 sand caterpillars, for one on any other tree. 



Mr. Pell. I think, on the contrary, that this singular attraction 

 is highly useful, for it takes away the enemy from other trees in 

 its vicinity. 



Mr. Robinson. I like the wild cherry for this — it is a fine 

 insect trap. 



