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summer of 1885 it continued in bloom six weeks. Last summer it 

 bloomed but was soon ruined by drought. At the annual meeting of 

 the North American Bee-Keepers' Association held in Detroit in De- 

 cember, 1885, a committee, of which I was a member, was appointed by 

 the association to investigate the merits of a new plant being cultivated 

 by Mr. Chapman, of Versailles, N. Y., who was present and repre- 

 sented that the plant was of unusual value to honey-producers. Being 

 instructed by you so to do, I met with other members of that committee 

 at Versailles on the 28th of July. I herewith inclose a copy of the re- 

 port which I prepared in behalf of that committee, together with a letter 

 of Mr. A. E. Manum, president of the Vermont Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion, which I presented to the North American Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion at its annual meeting held in Indianapolis, Iud., October 12, 13, 14, 

 1886. 



My experience with the plants furnished for observation at this sta- 

 tion was nearly identical with that of Mr. Manum. Fifty- two plants 

 arrived here by express, fifty-one of which came to maturity. Plants 

 were furnished to Prof. A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich.; T. F. Bingham, 

 Abronia, Mich. ; W. F. Clarke, Guelph, Ontario, and Mr. Van Dom, 

 Omaha, Nebr., each of whom highly recommend it as possessing un- 

 usual value as a bee-forage plant. 



