proceedings of the farmers' club. 79 



Seeds of a Neav Tea-Plant. 



Solon Robinson presented the seeds described in the followin.^ letter, 

 which Mr. Carpenter was requested to take charge of. Charles A. Perdue, 

 of Inland, Summit county, Ohio, writes : " I inclose a few seeds of a per- 

 ennial evergreen vine, growing wild on Fidalgo Island and other places on 

 the Pacific coast, in Washington Territory. The plant is used there by 

 the inhabitants as a substitute for tea; is said to have a fine flavor. I 

 have just received it from my brother, who has been a resident there for 

 several 3^ears. I also inclose a specimen of the plant. I suppose, from 

 his statement of the climate there, it would need some protection in the 

 winters of this latitude." 



These leaves are about the size of tea leaves, and are extremely pleasant 

 to the taste and smell, and we have no doubt tliey would make a tea quite 

 as pleasant as much of the stuff sold here at a dollar a pound. 



A Seedling Magnolia. 



Win. S. Carpenter called the attention of members to a seedling of a 

 Chinese magnolia, now ten feet higli, hardy, upright growth, very prolific 

 of magnificent, fragrant flowers, double and compact, about twice the size 

 of a hen's egg, white, slightly pink at the base. 



A New Fibrous Plant. 



J. H. Moorohead, of Ida, Iowa, writes as follows : 



" Inclosed I send you a sample of fiber cf a plant that grows veiy 

 abundantly in this region of Ljwa, on what is termed weed land, extensive 

 tracts being covered with it. 



" The sample sent was stripped from the plant by simplj' breaking the 

 woody substance and drawing the fibef from it. The plant having stood 

 during the winter where it grew. The growth is from three to five feet 

 in height, and about as large as a common penholder. 



"At the present time, when wool and ce)tton are worth from 80c. to $1 

 per pound, and material for paper is scarce and high, this may be used for 

 some good purpose. From my recollection of the plant it is a kind of 

 nettle, but of this I am not certain. If you can give the name of the 

 plant, or if considered of any value, state what, you will oblige me." 



Dr. Trimble thought he recognized the fiber as that of a plant that used 

 to grow upon the Brandywine river, and which he had often thought might 

 be a valuable one to cultivate. 



No one present was able to give any valuable information about the 

 plant, but it was generally conceded that it is the best of all the specimens 

 of fiber from wild plants that have been sent here, and the hope expressed 

 that Mr. Moorehead will try what would be the result of cultivation, and, 

 if favorable, take measures to have seed saved and distributed. If he will 

 send specimens of the plant to Wm. R. Prince, Flushing, he will ascertain 

 the proper name and class to which it belongs. iF such fiber, as the 

 sample sent, can be gathered in quantity from the plant growing wild, we 

 have no doubt it would sell to paper-makers, at such a price as would pay- 

 far better for the labor than growing corn in Iowa. 



