-I "T 



J * 



antiquarian to describe and restore the fine old gardens of a 

 century ago, when the venerable fruit trees, •which may yet 

 exist here and there, were yeritable striplings in the horticul- 

 tural race, and when they fondly looked forward with a 

 prophetic eye to this city of gardens. Who would not be glad 

 to reverently handle, not only the "mos&es of the manse," and 

 the time stains of lichens, which grew on the "house of the seven 

 gables," but have restored to him, all the brave show of daffies 

 and peonies, of hollyhocks and tulips, which adorned the 

 parterres and borders of the most worshipful worthies of 

 ancient Salem 1 Would that some fair maiden had bequeathed 

 to us her herbal, filled with the very flowers which she loved to 

 water and admire — withered indeed, but venerable — scentless 

 of the breath of the morning, yet redolent with a thousand 

 sweet memories and fancies. 



The herbarium contemplates— not only the preservation of 

 specimens of flowers and branches, roots and leaves of plants, 

 but is a conservatory of fruits, seeds, gums, woods, fibrous tissues 

 and the like, used in Arts or in Medicine. It is desirable that 

 efforts be steadily directed to this department ®f our collection, 

 already quite rich and valuable. We would urge on all mem- 

 bers engaged in various manufactures to present such specimens 

 of any vegetable-article, which may be esaployed by them, 

 accompanied with such informatioa as may b© readily leachedy 

 such as the period of its- introduction into mechanical labor — 

 the value, as a material and the like notices. All such spec- 

 imens will be duly labelled and recorded, for future reference. 



The additions- during the past yeaf have been slowly going 

 on, and some are ©f much value. They ha?e been noticed 

 from tinae to time in the reports ©f donations before th© 

 ordinary and other meetings of the Institute. 



The specimens are in good general order, and are arraage^ 

 a&is, at present, pra<;ticable. In this, as in all the other depart- 

 ments, the most pressing want is that of room. A great many 

 specimens are still in waiting for more expansive arrangements- 

 and many of the bundles need revising. I trust that some 

 zealous and younger hand will arise among some of our mem- 

 bers, who may become a co-laborer in this pleasant 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ii. S. 



