215 



ble for its growth of beech, the extensiye woods of which 

 wear a singular look to him who has dwelt habitually among 

 no forests save of pine and cedar. In these beech woods ^ 

 and around the ponds, are the haunts of many of Flora's 

 choice works ; and not a few of these had been met by him 

 ill the walk. Some of these he had brought along for 

 farther remark, such as the Blue Vervain, the Coreopsis and 

 Rhexia, the Willow-herb, the Dwarf Cornel, the Cardinal 

 Flower, and several others. 



Mention being made of the Sunflower, the Chair asked 

 if there was any truth in the assertion tkat it turned toward 

 the sun. Mr. Tracy replied that there was none whatever, 

 Tom Moore's beautiful poetry to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. 



George D. Phippen of Salem, gave a somewhat extend- 

 ed discourse on the plants that furnish a fiber for textile 

 uses. Four families, typified respectively by the Mallow, 

 the Milkweed, the Flax and the Nettle afford almost all of 

 this for common use. The two last are sources well known ; 

 but the ability of the Milkweed to furnish a delicate and 

 commendable fiber is not well understood. Mr. P. had col- 

 lected and brought to the meeting selections of such plants 

 as yield beneath their outer bark a strong fibrous tissue 

 known as the bast tissue, and which may be prepared and 

 woven into textile fabrics. He dwelt largely upon the As-« 

 clepias cornuti or common Milk or Silkweed, so abundant 

 in the fields and along the road sides throughout a large 

 extent of the country. He also exhibited beautiful speci- 

 mens of workmanship, both prepared, spun and wrought 

 from the fibre of this plant, by the hands of Miss Margaret 

 Gerrish, late of Salem, deceased, and recently presented to 



