No. 133.] 431 



notNgot, and its superiority well established, it is right for us to 

 procurt^ and cultivate it, if we see fit. As to the u.edicinal pro- 

 perties of some of our trees, it seems doubted whether they pos- 

 sess generally all the virtues ascribed to them. In some cases 

 this may be true. When a plant or juices of a tree have effected 

 the cure of one or two diseases that w^ere considered not only very 

 ti-ouble>ome, but dangerous. Excited with pleasure from the 

 relief received, the relieved are apt to ascribe to it more virtues 

 than it really possesses, and set it down as a remedy for almost 

 all complaints. The credulity of others, knowing the facts, make 

 them fall in witli this idea, and trees or plants sometimes thus 

 get a great name for medicinal properties. The red elm (or ulmus 

 rubra,) which Mr. Pell mentioned in his able essiiy on our native 

 ti-ees, which we have just heard, possesses, I believe, great medi- 

 cinal virtues. Its bark, small branches and leaves, steeped in 

 water, yield a thick and abundant mucilage, healing for most 

 cutaneous eruptions, good for deep seated colds and coughs, and 

 makes a soothing, refreshing drink for the system. It is called 

 by some the slippery elm. The gum tree of the south, mentioned 

 by Mr. liohinson, I believe also possesses important medicinal vir- 

 tues. 



Our time having expired, I should like the subject to be con- 

 tinued over to the next meeting, as there are several other of our 

 forest trees whose very excellent qualities ought to be fully con- 

 sidered and pointed out. The subject is a broad one, and it is 

 almost imj)ossible that ever) thing important which bears upon it 

 can be thought of, if ever so ably discussed. 



The secretary read a letter from Mr. Samuel Allen, of Morns- 

 town, New Jersey, proposing the subject of the mode of the growth 

 of pla^its and the oiieratioo of fertilizers, as a subject for discus- 

 sion by the club. The proposer is a plain, practical farmer, who 

 will attend the Club to give what he knows about it, and to get 

 the views of the Club about it. On motion, the subject was 

 adopted for the next Tuesday, February 22d, at noon. 



President Tallmadge adverted to the value of the Italian mul- 

 berry, not only as to silk, for which purpose he had uuiied with 

 others in importing the most improved kinds, but also as to its 



