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fragrant of any of the genus. The tulip tree (Lirio- 

 dendron tulipifera) which grows naturally from New 

 York State and Ohio, westward and southward, is a 

 near relative of the magnolias. Again Dr. Manasseh 

 Cutler figures, as that eminent physician, politician and 

 botanist will several times in these sketches. He knew 

 more about the trees of this part of the country than 

 any man living at the time, and recorded what he saw 

 and the results of his studies. 



Some years ago our ex-mayor, the late Nathaniel 

 Silsbee, furnished me with the following note : Mr. 

 Silsbee's father. Senator Silsbee, attended Dr. Cutler's 

 school, and he, with Willard Peele, harnessed the horse 

 and vehicle with which Dr. Cutler made his celebrated 

 journey to Ohio in 1788. On his return, Dr. Cutler 

 brought with him a tulip tree which he planted in his 

 garden in Hamilton. That an observer and botanist 

 like Cutler should bring a tree so great a distance 

 which was already in cultivation is hardly probable. 

 So it is natural to consider that, through him, this very 

 beautiful tree was first brought to the attention of the 

 people of our neighborhood. The largest tulip tree in 

 Salem is the magnificent specimen in the garden of Mr. 

 George Peabody on Washington square, which is con- 

 spicuous from Mall street. It measures eight feet and 

 three inches in circumference at five feet from the 

 ground, this being the smallest girth between its roots 

 and branches. The tree is perhaps fifty or sixty feet 

 high. It seems almost that this tree should have some 

 connection with the tradition received from Senator 

 Silsbee and it is to be hoped that something more of its 

 historywill some daybe obtained, although Mr. Peabody 

 only knows that it was a large tree in 1834. The tulip 



