316 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



to bo one of the finest apples grown. Where does it stand now ? By 

 many thought to be only a second-rate apple. Location has a. great deal 

 to do with the qnality of fruit. 



We find some of the Newtown Pippin apples are green, and others yel- 

 low. Now, I believe there is but one Newtown Pippin, and but one Rhode 

 Island Greening. The Spitzcnburgh grown on the Hudson river is found 

 there in greater perfection than in any other place that I know of. 



Mr. R. H. Williams. — One word in relation to the Greening apple. I have 

 seen apples of a green color grown in a great many locations, and all are 

 called the Rhode Island Greening. These apples seem to me to be very 

 distinct. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



Mr. R. H. Williams in the chair. 



The "Whitlow Fibre Plant. 



March 22, 1864. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — The Club will remember at a former meeting a 

 document exhumed from the State House at Albany, which spoke of the 

 discovery of a new fibre plant by Charles Whitlow, and. subsequently a 

 letter of explanation of its value, I have received the following letter from 

 Mr, John Goldie, Ayr, Canada West: 



"In reading over the proceedings of the Farmers' Clnb of the 2d 

 February last, I was much interested in the report of Messrs. Livingston 

 and Genet, about the new and rare plant discovered by Charles Whitlow, 

 as a t^ubstitute for flax and hemp. This was another of the humbugs prac- 

 ticed on the public, Mr, Whitlow was, I think, a farmer from East Lothian, 

 Scotland, and came to Canada, for what express purpose I do not know, 

 but, I suppose, tQ better his fortune. Although little acquainted with 

 botany, he brought along with him the botanical transparencies of Dr. 

 Thornton, and gave lectures upon the subject in Montreal and several 

 places in the States. While in Canada he found out the fibrous quality of 

 the Urtica Canadensis (Lapertea), or Canadian nettle, which is the wonder- 

 ful new plant. Having gotten a quantity of the fiber prepared, he went to 

 the States, lecturing on its superior qualities, and his statements were so 

 believed that, although it does not seem that the Legislature gave him any 

 money, yet he took out a patent for the manufacture of the nettle, and sold 

 one-half of it to a company for a large sura — if I mistake not, §30,000. 

 This seems to have been an end of the concern. I never hoard any more 

 of the business. Mr. Whitlow, after getting the cash, went to London, and 

 turned quack doctor. I am surprised at the statement that Drs. Edy and 

 Muhlenberg did not know the nettle. Tiiere must be some mistake about 

 this. I have seen Mr. Whitlow, and was in Montreal soon after the nettle 

 discovery. I had the report of what is stated above from several friends, 

 who knew the whole concern, and also read it in the public papers of tlie 

 day. 



Mr. Solon Robinson remarked; This is probably the common nettle plant 

 which grows all over New England, and of which we occasionally hear 



