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sive and profitable. The attention should now be directed 

 to our native specimens, and great numbers of every sort, 

 however common, should be carefully collected every season. 

 It is to be hoped that our field meetings will be conducive 

 to this end, and that no opportunity will be allowed at such 

 times to secure specimens ; encouraging those resident in 

 the several towns we visit, to collect for us. Such a mode 

 would advance the interest of the Institute and promote a 

 taste for natural science, indeed for pursuits similar to these, 

 which engross us all. A word too on the herbarium. A 

 series of shelves and drawers has been constructed for this 

 important portion of our collection. It will quite occupy 

 these and be so arranged as to be readily consulted. The 

 native plants are very desirable ; also their seeds, woods, and 

 fibres. A suite of algae, lichens, mosses and ferns are in pro- 

 gress, and such fungi as can be procured. These latter are 

 deserving attention, especially as so many o f them affect 

 vegetation. Specimens from abroad will also be acceptable 

 especially gums, fibres and grains or preparations used for 

 food in other countries. Seeds and seed vessels are readily 

 collected and are of much importance. Our collection is 

 already rich, but we wish it to become richer yet. Speci- 

 mens of new garden flowers should be saved for the her- 

 barium ; from year to year there being some novelty intro- 

 duced. Let nothing that is vegetable escape some one's 

 care and the result will be propitious. Those, who cannot 

 offer any such, may be able to present some engraving, 

 drawing or illustration of flowers and fruits of great future 

 value for consultation. 



In connection with this subject the Chair presented a pa- 

 per, containing a list of plants collected by Mr. S. B. But- 

 trick of Salem and by several members of a botanical class in 

 Danvers, during the past season, in Salem and its vicini- 

 ty. It was the result of Mr. Buttrick's researches in the 

 flora of the vicinity of Salem, of which the mention of a 

 promise to prepare the same may be found on page 173 of 



