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It is tempting to ramble among the old records and 

 traditions, but the subject in hand will not be reached. 

 It is said that Dr. Manasseh Cutler of Hamilton first 

 called attention to the sweet magnolia (Magnolia glauca) 

 in Gloucester, near where the present popular summer 

 resort perpetuates the name and fame of the most 

 northerly station of this plant. Its fragrant blossoms 

 attracted him to the spot, and ever since it has been 

 eagerly sought for its flowers and for transplanting into 

 gardens. 



One of the most successful attempts to grow the 

 magnolia in Salem is seen in the large clump in the 

 depressed garden in front of the pavilion at the " Wil- 

 lows," where it has flourished finely for several years. 

 There are good specimens also in the shady corners of 

 many gardens in the city. In the Southern States this 

 magnolia becomes a tree and is evergreen, but with us 

 it is a deciduous shrub. Why the magnolia should be 

 found in Gloucester is a mystery. " The Hermit," a 

 well known Gloucester character, a student and lover 

 of natiire, feels sure that it was brought from the 

 South, Virginia perhaps, and planted in some old gar- 

 den. By changes in the location of the settlement it 

 was lost sight of, and, the woods growing up in the 

 region of the deserted dwelling places, the plants were 

 left to themselves and increased. Of course Glouces- 

 terites will not admit this theory of its introduction, 

 but, however it may have been, the plant remains one 

 of the most interesting in the flora of the county. 



There are several other magnolias, natives of Penn- 

 sylvania and the Alleghany mountain region to the 

 southward, which are hardy with us. Among them the 

 umbrella, great-leaved and ear-leaved magnolias, are 



