Hibrary of the Museum OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY, AT HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS, Founded by private subscription, in 1861. a en se ee hina tances seiar cee aaa oe 5 i oe ; ey Sai Bie 4 " Be: 2 —] . adn a ey ee he iP LAS =a By ” , | | Mee, Mar Wa | PROCEEDINGS | OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. VOLUME II. 1856 to 1860. SALEM: PRINT EDS Oe LAE INSTITUTE, BY T. J. HUTCHINSON, PRINTER. Sm1 862. ;' | : A ep IEE ee ee PROCEEDINGS OF THE HSSEX INSTITUTE. Wednesday, May 14, 1856. Annual Meeting, Rev. John L. Russell, Vice President, in the chair. The record of the last Annual Meeting was read. The report of the Secretary was then read and accepted. ° According to its statement, forty-one new members have been added to the Institute; eight of the former members have removed from Essex County, one other has retired from the Institute, and one beside, has died. The present number is three hundred and one. here are sixty-six Correspondent Members, who, with eleven Honorary Members of the original Essex Historical Society, and thus in virtue of their connection with that body are also members of the Institute, make the aggregate number of our members to be three hundred and seventy-eight. The recurrence of the Annual Meeting seems an apprepriate occasion to speak of those removed by death since our last similar gathering. In thus doing, we are reminded of -the decease of one, whom, though, for few years past, withdrawn from society in consequence of severe illnes, yet we were wont to behold the deep enthusiasm which he always manifested in literary and historical reseach—a taste for these pursuits he early imbibed and sedulously cherished during a long life, thus entitling him to a place among our refined scholars. His printed productions were principally contributions to periodical literature, and were such as we should expect froma mind so richly cultivated and so highly endowed. ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. i. 1, 6) Freperic Howes, son of Anthony and Bethiah Howes, was born in the town of Dennis, Barnstable County, in 1782, and died at Salem, Nov. 12, 1855. At the age of six he removed with his father to Ashfield, Worcester County, and spent much of the time, until his admission to Harvard Univer- sity in 1804, on the labors of the farm. Leaving college in his junior year, he entered upon the study of the law with Luther Lawrence, Esq., of Groton. He commenced the prac- tice of the profession in Salem, resided at the same time in Danvers, which town he represented for several years in the legislature. He afterwards removed with his family to Salem, where he has continued, with the exception of one or two years residence in Boston, until his decease. He always took a lively interest in the success of our local institutions, particularly of those whose objects were the promotion of literature or the sciences. He was one of the earliest founders and officers of the Essex Agricultural Society, and succeeded the distinguished Pickering in the Presidential chair of that Society. He was also an early member of our Historical Society; a Trustee from 1824 to the union in 1848, and the Treasurer from 1831 to 1848,—was also for many years a member of the Natural History Society. In the Institute he was one of the Curators, and a member of the Finance Committee from its organization until 1854, when sickness caused him to retire. Two of our Corresponding Members have recently deceased. 1st. THADDEUS WuttIAmM Harris, M. D., died at Cam- bridge, Mass., Jan. 16, 1856. He wastheson of Rev. T. M. Harris, of Dorchester, Mass., in which town he was born Noy. 12, 1795, and graduated at Harvard University in 1815. After having pursued the prescribed medical course, he estab- lished himself in the practice of the profession at Milton, Mass., where he remained until his appointment to the office of Librarian in Harvard University, in 1831, made vacant by the death of Mr. Benjamin Peirce—in which situation he continued until his decease. Dr. H. was early imbued with an ardent love of Nature, and devoted his leisure to the study of the sciences. So successful was he in that of Insects, that after the death of Say, he was placed at the head of American 3 Entomologists. His earlier contributions on Insects appeared in the New England Farmer of Boston, and other agricultural journals. In 1833 he prepared the systematic catalogue of Insects in Hitchcock’s Geology of Massachusetts,—the first attempt to catalogue the Insects of any section of territory on this continent, comprising some 2350 species, speci- mens of nearly all in his own cabinet. His report on the Insects of Massachusetts injurious to vegetation, printed in 1841,—a smail impression with slight alterations in 1842, and a second edition in 1852, is considered of the highest authority among works of this class, and is marked by accuracy and thoroughness. Dr. H. communicated to the Natural History Society in 1837, a paper on the history of the Goliath Beetles, which was printed in the journal of the Society. 2d. Joun CoLtins Warren, M. D., born at Boston, Aug. 1st,1778, graduated at Harvard University in 1797, died at his residence in Boston, Sunday morning, May 4th, 1856. In 1806 he was appointed Adjunct Professor of Anatomy in Harvard, and after the death of his father, he was the successor. In 1847 he retired from his position, having discharged the ‘duties for a period of 32 years. Since that time he has devoted himself very much to the study of the natural sciences, and at the time of his decease was President of the Boston Society of Natural History. His great work on the American Mastodon, published at his own expense, has been freely distributed in the principal scientific libraries of this country and of Europe. 26 TSol Vaz 18384 26 1843 22 Acy574, 2) 1885 ©6200 1844 26 18538 28 1836 6.16 1845 28 1854 32 USB AS 1846 839 1855 8621 USS ZY 134 29 1856 3634 AUSSG) Pall 1848 3 We perceive by this table that the mamber of electrical dis- turbances observed by Mr. Lamson was less in 1856, than in 1846 and 1850; but of these discharges the number of those of forked lightning in the year 1856 must have greatly pre- ponderated. We may now consider and endeavor to answer the questions, proposed for the consideration of the Institute by Rev. G. B. Perry, and by it, referred to this Committee. 1. Has the exemption of buildings through lightning rods, been such as to justify the general confidence reposed in them ? To most of those who have given any attention to the subject, it is a matter of surprise that any doubt should exist, that nearly absolute safety may be secured by the use of rods ~ erected on scientific principles. Mr. Ebenezer Merriam, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in a communi- cation to the Journal of Commerce, says, that he recorded 39 deaths by lightning, and 27 thunderstorms, in July, 1854.— “‘ Our record, says he, gives an aggregate of 750 deaths on the land for the period of 14 years, only one of which occurred in a building furnished with lightning conductors, and that one in the summer of 1855. at Little Prairie, Wis- consin. There were three buildings burnt by lightning in 165 this country, the last year, which were furnished with conduc- tors, a barn in West Chester Co., a house in Richmond, Va., and the house of Mr. Van Renssaler, in St. Lawrence Cec., N. Y. We have in vain endeavored to learn the particulars in each case.” He proceeds to declare that in no other instance, ashore or at sea, has any case of death been made known to him. He recommends condinuous rods with glass insulators, as the surest protection against lightning. He gives a descrip- tion of the house of Mr. Nathan Frye, of this city, and ~ attributes the failure of the two rods to protect it, to the size of the house, te the number ef chimneys and the imperfect arrange- ment of the rods. He gives an extract from a letter by Prof. Henry, relative te the shock which visited the building of the Smithsonian Institute, in which the latter declares that the reports ef great injury done were much exaggerated, as he was in the building at the time and was not affected ; that two other persons stood within a few feet of the rod and felt no shock. Mr. M. describes the shock that struck the house of Mr. James Spillman, of Morrisania, though protected by rods, and shews that the injury to the house resulted from the wpward passage of the rod from the chimney to the top of the roof, at which point the injury was done, while another part of the house at which the rod descended directly to the earth was un- injured. From events of this character, doubt has arisen in some minds of the efficacy of lightning rods, when, if the causes of their failure were duly weighed, the incidents would furnish additional proof of their value. A work recently published in England, entitled ‘‘ Three Years in Canada,” written by F. MacTaggart, Civil Engineer of the British government, contains the following patriotic declaration :—‘‘ Science has every cause to dread the thunder rods of Franklin; they attract destruction, and houses are safer without than with them.” As if for the express purpose of deciding this question, the Nautical Magazine of March, 1858, says, ‘‘ objections to the employment of lightning rods have been so strenuously made, that the Governor and Council of the East India Company, were led to order the lightning rods to be removed from their powder magazines and other public buildings, having in the year 1338 come to the conclusion from certain representations of their scientific officers that lightning rods were attended by more danger than advantage.” In the teeth of which conclusion a magazine at Dum Dum, 166 and a corning house at Mazagon, not having lightning rods, were struck by lightning and blown up. But no such instance of magazines preserved by rods for seventy yesrs has occurred. No supposition can be more erroneous than that which ascribes to a well constructed lightning rod the power of draw- ing the thunder cloud into its vicinity. An experiment by Dr. Franklin sets this matter in its proper light. He insulated a scale beam hung on a vertical pivot, from which one of the scales had been removed, and into the other a light bunch of cotton wool had been placed. He then charged the beam with positive electricity, giving it at the same time a horizontal rotatory motion over the surface of a table; when he placed beneath the scale as it revolved a piece of blunt iron, the scale descended towards the iron to give off its explosive discharge ; but when he substituted an iron point for the blunt iron, instead of descending, the scale, having lost its electricity to the iron point, rose quickly above the table. Thus a cloud, instead of approaching a forest of lightning rods in a village, would be deprived of the electricity which has kept it so near the earth by attraction and ascend in consequence of the loss of it. That the confidence so generally felt in the efficacy of the protection of lightning rods, is not misplaced, has been tri- umphantly proved in cases innumerable. In 1769, the Jacob tower, in Hamburg, was furnished .with arod; and after the cathedral at Sienna had been repeatedly struck by lightning the authorities concluded to follow the example of Hamburg, and erected conductors. The inhabit- ants at first regarded them with great terror, and stigmatized them as heretical. But on the 10th of April, 1777, a heavy shock of lightning visited the tower and glided harmlessly to the earth; the church has not been injured since, and the con- ductors are absolved from the charge of heresy. Old St. Paul’s church in London, unprotected by rods, was twice struck and damaged. The present structure, though more elevated, being provided with rods, has never suffered from electricity. The cathedral of Geneva, the most elevated in the city, has for more than two centuries enjoyed perfect immunity from lightning ; while the neighboring bell tower of St.Gervais, though not so elevated, has often been struck and damaged. In 177], Saussure by examination discovered the cause to consist in a complete coating of tin plate from the top of the Cathredal spire to the base of the tower, thence by metallic water pipes to 167 the ground, forming a series of conductors analagous to those of Harris. But if lightning rods are useful to protect buildings, still more useful are they for the protection of ships. In the British navy, between the years 1810 and 1816, forty sail of the line, twenty frigates, and twelve sloops, were damaged by lightning. Between 1739 and 1798, seventy-three men were killed, and several hundred dangerously wounded by the same instrumentality. The amount of property destroyed cannot be estimated. The main-mast alone ofa seventy-four, costs originally $5000. To this must be added the cost of its - removal, of ruined spars, rigging, hull and stores, and the daily expenses of the ship, varying from $400 to $550 per day. This estimate glances at the cost of repairing those not totally destroyed by lightning. In the space of forty-six years the average expense thus accruing amounted to $30,000 per annum. Probably some of those ships that ‘sail from their port and are never heard of more” are destroyed by lightning. To the foregoing estimate must be added the casualities occurring to vessels weakened by the electric shock, and after- wards lost in struggle with the wind or the foe. ‘The Guerriere is an instance,’’ says the Nautical Magazine, ‘“‘of a frigate fighting a superior force with her mainmast in a defec- tive state, by a stroke of lightning, and which might have stood but for this defect. The mainmast was carried away in battle, by the fall of the foremast across the main stay, which cer- tainly might not have led to this disaster, had the main-mast been in an efficient state. The loss of all the masts was the loss probably of the ship.” The British government at length resolved to furnish the national vessels with the most approved system of conductors, that of Sir Wm. Snow Harris. This measure was fully justi- fied by the result. For between the years 1828 and 1840, upwards of sixty ships of the line had been exposed to light- ning in all climates without sustaining any damage; while for the rest of the navy on different stations and not so protected, there were damaged by lightning, 7 ships of the line, 7 frigates, 30 sloops, and 6 smaller vessels and steamers, in all 50 vessels, averaging more than one-fourth of the British navy in commission. In a period of twenty-two years, of the ships of the navy at sea, those without conductors, compared with those with conductors, the number struck was in the proportion of three of the former to two of the latter. 168 Induced by such facts and considerations, the British.govern- ment, in the year 1846, selected ten vessels to wear suits of lightning conductors, and sent them to different parts of the world and into all climates during one year, and, finding every ship effectually protected, before the year 1848, furnished every vessel in the British navy with a similar protection, and the Hast India Company followed the example of the British government. The Committee therefore do not hesitate to declare their belief that ‘‘the exemption of buildings from injury by light- ning, through the protection of lightning rods, has been such as to justify the general confidence reposed in them. 2. Have not single trees and groves afforded greater pro- tection than the metallic rod ? It admits of no doubt that trees serve as natural conductors, and especially those, of which the leaves are linear. A case in point is quoted in Franklin’s Letters. A Mr. Wilcke saw a large fringed cloud strongly electrified, and extending its inferior surface towards the earth, which suddenly lost its electrical character in passing a forest of tall fir trees. The ragged and dependent portions shrank back upon the main cloud, and rose up as it were from the earth. The conducting power of trees results only from the water they contain ; for dry wood, especially when baked, becomes a non-conductor ; water by the estimate of Mr. Cavendish, has to iron a conducting power of only one to 400,000,000. Whether a grove would adequately protect a dwelling, depends entirely on the quantity of metal used in the construc- tion of the latter. It appears that the trees which have been visited by thunderbolts have not been able to protect them- selves. In other words the obstruction to the current of electricity has been such as to furnish no passage to a large quantity of the fluid, as in the case of lightning rods badly | insulated, which have been forsaken by the fluid for a better conductor. Among the trees struck and more or less injured by light- ning the past year, have been noticed sycamores, pines, oaks, apple trees, elms and locusts. If trees possess a higher power of conduction than a moistened bundle of wooden rods of the same height, it is attributable to the increased evaporation from their leaves and branches; especially is this true, when the electrical condition of the atmosphere is highly intense. 169 By experiments, it has been shown that a living plant evapo- rates from one third to one fourth more when electrified, than in its natural state; so that not only the tree, but its column of vapor, serves as an electrode through which the positive electricity of the air passes to the earth. Animals, in like manner, by their profuse evaporation, greater than that of vegetables from their higher temperature, furnish better con- ductors than trees; in confirmation of this, is the common direction given in our scientific works, to avoid the shelter of trees. The electricity, leaving the worse conductor the tree, selects the better the animal. It may even be lured from a lightning rod of small capacity, by a mass of the same metal of greater magnitude. Some facts furnished by Mr. Warner, before quoted, are here available. He writes, ‘‘there were apple trees of good size on the North and the South of the barn that was struck, at about the distance of three rods. I have a barn 65 rods west of my house, which has been struck; the same shock went through an apple tree to a post in a fence some seven feet from the tree, which it split and tore in pieces. I could see no mark on the tree, but it has since died. This tree is 80 feet from the barn. Six rods northerly is wood land; lightning has struck in these woods. I do not know of any minerals in the land in this vicinity, which would attract the lightning, but the land is rolling and of a strong moist soil.” In South Abington, an oak was shivered, and a pine was struck ; and another in Reading. In Plymouth, an apple tree was struck. In Exeter, a pine tree was cut off, and fell to the earth in an erect position. July 15, a locust was split in Hamilton, 80 reds from Dea. Loring’s house. A large elm was struck in Dedham. In every instance of the passage of lightning through trees, brought to the attention of the Committee, the tree has been found to suffer to a greater or less extent. If then we find the tree incapable from its conducting power, of defending itself, we should judge that lightning would need little inducement to forsake it for a building in which iron to a greater or less extent is employed; nay, even animals in the vicinity of trees would be exposed to greater danger than in an exposed situation in the open air; for the tree by its great height would first receive the shock, but would not withhold it from an animal within the sphere of attraction. The ESSEX INST, PROCEED. VOL li. 22, 170 Committee would therefore decide the second question in the negative. 3. Whose rods, and of what construction have afforded the greatest security ? The best rods or those which have stood longest the test of time were invented by King Solomon; for the temple, was unharmed by lightning during one thousand years. ‘The whole roof bristled with metallic pinnacles, the body of the building was covered with plates of gold, and water spouts from the roof descended into deep cisterns of water. This was the system of Solomon. If then we elevate a sufficient number of points to furnish a passage for the electric flood, and with surface sufficient to prevent any part of it from seizing some iron bar, zinc roof, tinned porch or window-casing, we have complied with one essential condition ; if we keep open a sufficient number of these passages to the earth, and spread the rods into points below as above, we have answered another condition. If different parts © of the house are furnished with metals, these substances should be united by wires with one of the main trunks; if, however, we insulate the system of conductors, furnish a sufficient num- ber of them, and thus prevent the fluid from reaching the imperfect conductors within the building, we shall have answered the same purpose. An excellent system of conduction for our buildings is that of George W. Otis; for ships that of W. G. Harris. The rods of the former are constructed from 3-8 in. iron © elevated above each chimney, the points of the ridge pole and other prominent elevations, presenting either a branch of points or a single point, gilt, extending over the ridge-pole down the rafters to the earth, united with a screw and socket, and insu- lated from the building by means of glass cups. That of Mr. Harris, consists of a double strip of copper, sunk into each mast and spar by a shallow channel, to bring the metal flush with the wood; the strip being interrupted at every few feet to give way readily with the bending of the spar, and still so as to preserve its continuous extension. The strips extend from the mizen mast to the stern-post, from the steps of the mast to the metallic bolts passing through kelson ani keel to the water; also bands of copper pass under the beams leading to the iron knees or metallic fastenings, passing through the side of the ship, the whole formed with shut joints, and making of the ship a compound metallic mass, little liable ret to be destroyed by any electrical shock to which it may be sub- jected; this system has had a trial of 18 years in the British navy, and even the common sailor has merged his suspicion into admiration. ; The Committee declare it to be their opinion, that any system of conductors, sufficiently elevated, presenting a sufh- cient number of points, perfectly continuous, presenting competent surface, and pursuing the most direct route to the earth, claims and should reccive the full confidence of the public. 4. Are some trees better conductors than others, as the elm for instance than the pine, and therefore more efficacious protectors ? In the cases of this nature which have been noticed the past year, it has almost invariably been found that the pine when struck has been shivered. But the elm receives the shock more patiently, perhaps its exceeding strength enables it better to bear the shock. The oak usually manifests the effects of the contact. The North American Indians have a tradition, which declares that the beech is never struck by lightning. Tiberius, the emperor of Rome, wore a wreath of laurel as a protection from lightning. Since tradition is usually founded in truth, we may infer that, so far as its authority extends, the affirmative is the true answer to this question. Possibly the trees whose branches make a small angle with . the trunk, are better conductors than those constructed with greater angles. The angies of the branches of the beech and the elm are small; those of the oak, the apple, the locust, the sycamore and the pine are large. I have spent six years in the vicinity of a grove of Lombardy poplars, but knew no instance of violence done to them by lightning, or to the build- ings which they shaded. Has the maple, the willow, or the birch, been known to suffer from electricity ? Facts in relation to this question are few indeed, but what there are, lead to the conclusion that some trees are better conductors of electricity than others. 5. Are the amount and operations of the electric fluid con- siderably affected by the growing and ripening harvests ? It may be regarded as an established fact, that a chemical change in the form of bodies is attended with the development of electricity. 172 Now in the production of electricity by the sulphate of copper battery, we have the decomposition of water and of the salt; and the formation of an oxide of copper, and a new salt, the sulphate of zinc; and in this process, abundant electricity is set at liberty. M. Beequerel, by a series of experiments, has shewn that between the plant and the soil flows an electric current, the soil being positive and the plant negative; that by the banks of a stream the phenomena are complex, the alkaline waters being negative, and acid waters positive. If so, then the deposit of the salts of soda, potash and ammonia in vegetables may be the cause of their negative electricity. And when a thunder cloud surcharged with positive electricity approaches the ripening harvests, the conditions become such as to favor a discharge of electricity between them. Arago says, that wheat fields, after athunder storm of sheet lightning, suffer from the breaking of the stalk and the dropping of the heads of wheat. That the growing and ripen- ing harvest exercises an influence on the electrical condition of the air, may be affirmed on the same grounds that warrant our conclusion that trees and forests act in this way. Evidence on this subject is not abundant, and it is to be hoped that the facts and opinions just presented may stimulate other minds to other and more extensive researches. For the Committee, JACOB BATCHELDER, Chairman. The Chair presented the meeting with notices of the bloom- ing and budding of early spring flowers in 1855 and 1856, from notes kept by Mr. 8. B. Burrrick, whose personal observations on the aspects of the flowers are so well known. CALENDER OF SprInG FoR 1855. April 27. Leontodon taraxacum (dandelion), Saxifraga Virginiensis. Viola ovata. ‘Thalictrum dioicum, Hepatica triloba, Ictodes feetida, Acer rubrum in flower, and Columbine beginning to bud, near the Marblehead Rail-road track and in Derby’s woods. 173 May 24. Viola cucullata, V. lanceolata, Caltha palustris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Thalictrum dioicum, Trientalis Ameri- cana, Arum triphyllum, Rumex acetosella, Fragraria Virginica, Convallaria bifolia, Potentilla Canadensis, Aquilegia Canaden- sis, Thalictrum anemonoides, Amelanchier Canadensis in the Swampscott woods, Lynn. CALENDER OF SPRING FOR 1856. April 7. Alnus serrulata (dlack alder) fully expanded; frogs piping and snow nearly gone. April 15. Draba verna in full flower; some plants going to seed. April 18. Hepatica triloba in full flower near the Marble- head R. R. track. Sanguinaria Canadensis (6/ood root) in full flower, Salix humilis (Swamp Willow) blooming out and Equisetum sylvaticum expanded. Saxifraga Virginiensis be- ginning to bloom near Pulpit Rock and near the neighboring sunny ledges; the snow has now wholly gone. April 25. Columbine buds turning red. April 26. Erythronium Americanum (dog’s tooth violet) in flower near Lege’s Hill. May 2. White frost seen en the sleepers of the Eastern R. R. track. Gnaphalium plantagineum, Viola sagittata. May 7. Potentilla Canadensis, Thalictrum anemonoides Arbutus uva ursi, Acer rubrum, near Ship Rock. May 15. Aquilegia Canadensis, Anemone nemerosa, Oldenlandia czrulea (Houstonia), Ranunculus bulbosus, Rhodora Canadensis, Vaccinium tenellum, Fragraria Virginica, Amelanchier Canadensis; peach trees in flower. May 21. Viola cucullata, V. blanda, Arum triphyllum, Smilacina bifolia, Uvularia sessilifolia, Caltha palustris, in Swampscott woods. May 22. Cypripedium acaule budding, Panax trifoliata, Trientalis Americana, Trillium cernuum, Coptis trifoliata, Thalictrum dioicum, Chimaphila umbellata, in vicinity of Newhall’s Crossing and of Ship Rock. In reading these notes of Mr. Buttrick, the Chair requested the attention of Mr. B. to similar records for the next year, and elicited a promise that a calender of 1857, embracing the entire floral seasong should be furnished the Essex Institute. 174 It was thought advisable by several, who participated in remarks which these notices of the Spring called forth, that they be published in the proceedings as bearing on other and kindred subjects. The Chair also showed how they might serve as the basis of something like a special treatise on the plants existent about Salem, and which by the inroads of civilization and the laying out of new streets, were rapidly disappearing from our - flora. While engaged thus in the passing occurrences of to- day, we are pleasantly reminded oftentimes of what interested others of old, as may be shown in the following MEMENTO OF OLDEN TIMES. The following bill for fruit and other trees, was handed to the Essex Institute, by N. Silsbee, Esq., and is illustrative of the horticultural ideas of sixty years since : ; ‘Mr. Heisler’s Bill and settlement for Trees. 1799. For Mr. Nathaniel Silsbee. Plums. Semiana. Imperatrice. Bonum Magnum. No. ‘© DO pak lees bO LO po Peaches. Brattals White. Early Purple. Red Magdalin. Noblesse. Apricots. Lombardy Poplar. Poplar large leaf. OIOQ Oe ees bo LD op G9 09 GO C9 45 Trees 2s — $15. (Dated) Salem, April 9th, 1799. Rec'd payment, (Signed) BENJAMIN STEVENS.” Twenty-four poplars for ornament, and poplars too; while at this day are twice the amount of kinds of all sorts of 175 ornamental trees, to be had at any nursery! The de- cline of the taste for the Lembardy poplar is a striking. instance of the fickleness of the public for fancy arti- cles. Here was a tall, graceful and rapid growing foreigner discarded almost universally—and seen now only here and there, forlorn, broken by the winds and desolate. The New- buryport turnpike still possesses a few of what seemed once to have been ah avenue, and some hill tops in Essex County are marked in the distant horizon by the taper finger of a single tree of that species. Our beautiful Common paraded files of them on its sides, vegetable sentinels, always at their posts in all weathers. What better emblems too of the mili- tary and precise position, and emblematical of the purposes of the parade ground. A single arrowy poplar rising amidst a clump of elms or of other trees is a picture of beauty in arbor- iculture seen only here and there more by chance than design. May the day be distant when the Lombardy poplar shall become extinct; and we gratefully preserve the record of the “12” individuals with the ‘‘ 12 large leaf’’ ones, which were found in the goodly company of delicious peaches and noble plums of 1799. SaLem, 1857. Capt. NatHaNntIeL E. Atwoop, of Provincetown, was then introduced to the meeting, and offered a few remarks relating to the spawning, &c. of certain fishes. He first alluded to some of the peculiarities in the sexes of different kinds of fishes, as difference in weight, also other distinguishing fea- tures. The Cod, Haddock, Hake and Pollock were mentioned as examples illustrating various differences in the sexes. He never saw a very large male Cod; Hake and Pollock of the same sex, are marked by the opposite characteristic. He was of the opinion that bony skeleton fishes generally, deposit their eggs before they are fecundated: but he understood that Agassiz had discovered that, in other instances, this was done before depositing the spawn. ‘The Cod deposit their spawn in 176 November and December, and the Haddock come in afterward, one nest, as you may say, answering for both. He was unable to state when Hake or Pollock spawn, neither did he know of any ‘difference in their condition during the spawning season. Halibut spawn in Jarge numbers at George’s Bank, in the months of June and July, and in localities similar to those of the fish before mentioned ; there appears to be no difference in their condition at this period, they being equally fat at all times. Various fishes require different temperatures for living. As summer approaches, the Cod goes off into deeper water. When these fish come upon the coast in the spring, a few are often left about the rocks—and are known as the Rock Cod. The Halibut also comes into shoal water in the spring. The Mack- erel appears to be of a different.nature ; it goes off into deep water, and when it returns in the spring, it is lean and in poor condition; its eggs are deposited before leaving, and when it returns, ining the summer to the locality which it left, as is the invariable custom, the eggs are then ready to mature: The Mackerel are fatter, and in better condition, at the latter part of the fishing season. When Mackerel come in, three- fourths of them are males; with Halibut, on the other hand, there is a far greater disproportion of sexes—nine tenths being females, the males being also, much the smallest. He never saw a male Halibut weighing over 60 lbs. ; while females weigh from 75 to 200 lbs. Why nature had made such great dispar- ity he did not know. Capt. A. then proceeded to speak briefly of some of the fishes that spawn in rivers and sometimes proceed to sea, naming, among these, the Shad and Alewife. hese come in a little earlier than the Mackerel, and in better condition. Shad and Herring, when they arrive m fresh water and deposit their eggs, are lean and poor and so remain while they are in the fresh water. Salmon begin to grow poor as their eggs devel- ope, which process is very slow. He concluded his remarks by speaking of the Capelan, which differed from the other fish named, in most of the particulars which had been given; they come to the coast at the spawning season, but remain only a 177 short time. At first none but males come, but these are after- wards joined by a few females—who after depositing their eggs take their departure—the eggs are then fecundated by the males who remain about a week and then leave. Capt. Atwood’s remarks were received with close attention and much interest. The chair then stated that a vote of thanks to the two gen- tlemen who had interested the meeting this evening would be but a mere form, and thanked them heartily, in his own, and in behalf of the Institute, for the valuable information they had imparted : The meeting then adjourned. Wednesday, May 18, 1857. Annual meeting, this day, at 8 o'clock, P. M. Hon. Daniel A. White, President, in the chair. The Records of the last annual meeting were read. The Report of the Secretary was read, and accepted. Ac- cording to its statement the present number of resident mem- bers is three hundred and forty-one;—there are sixty-six correspondent members. who, with eleven honorary members of the original Essex Historical Society, make’ the aggregate number of our members to be four hundred and eighteen. During the year fifty-seven members have been added to the Institute—ten of the former members have removed from Essex County, four others have retired, and three besides have died. ‘To the memory of the three last, it seems appropriate, that, on this occasion, we should pay a passing tribute of respect: they had all lived to a good old age, and had passed through life retaining the respect and confidence of the commu- nity—although their pursuits were not altogether in unison with the objects of the Society, yet they were always very willing to contribute liberally with means and influence to aid us in all our undertakings. ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL ii 28. 178 1. MicuarL SHEPARD, son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Webb) Shepard, was born in Salem, 4th September, 1785, where he always resided. He died October 10, 1856, after a long and painful illness. He had been one of our most distin- guished and successful merchants, and was one of those who knew the true ‘value of wealth and liberally contributed to all objects that are promotive of the good of mankind. Many years will elapse before the void created by his decease will be filled, and long will his memory be cherished in this commu- nity as an ardent and sincere friend of all good works. 2. JoHN WHITE TREADWELL, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (White) Treadwell, was born in Ipswich, 12th of July, 1780. He moved to Salem in early life, and soon became one of our most respected and valued citizens, widely known in the relig- ious denomination of which for a third of a century he was a conspicuous, hospitable and trustworthy member. A lingering infirmity overclouded his life for many months previous to his decease, which occurred on the 4th of April, 1857. 3. WILLIAM PIcKMAN, son of Benjamin and Mary (Toppan) Pickman, was born at Salem, 25th June, 1774. In early life he was a merchant in Boston—for many years he has lived in his native place, not immediately engaged in the active duties of life. He was an upright merchant, abounding in commer- cial integrity, an eminent citizen, though of modest pretentions, and faithful in all his duties. He died on Friday morning, May 1, 1857. Two of our corresponding members have died— Dr. Joun Locks, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who died at that place, on Thursday, 10th of July, 1856, at the age of 65. He had been long distinguished for his zeal and successful labors in many departments of science. His papers in Silliman’s Journal of Science were generally on topics connected with Galvanism and Electro-magnetism. A writer in Cincinnati observes of him, ‘‘he was an ardent student, a profound scholar, an indefatigable explorer into the causes of things, and a man of pure reputation, of genial nature, and of all the virtues that adorn private life.” 1 Witttam Putwam Ricuarpsoy, M. D., of Kendall, Tli- nois, formerly of Salem. He died on Friday, March 27, 1857, at his residence, after a few days illness. He was a man re- spected and esteemed by all who knew him, and his memory will be long and pleasantly remembered by many of our citi- zens and fellow-members. He was ason of William P. and Deborah (Lang) Richardson, born at Salem, August 15, 1813. Educated in our schools, he was prepared for college in the Latin School, and graduated at Harvard University in 1834. He studied medicine with the late Dr. A. L. Peirson, and in 1837 received the degree of M. D., after which he entered the practice here and continued until 1846, when he removed to Kendall, Kendall County, Illinois. There he had been chiefly engaged in horticultural and agricultural pursuits, for which his fine taste and love of natural history peculiarly fitted him. While in Salem he was an active and useful citizen, interested in whatever tended to improve and elevate the community. He was a valuable member of the school committee, and a patron and co-worker in various public institutions. He connected himself with the Natural History Society soon after its organi- zation, and was an efficient officer from that time until his removal from our vicinity. ‘To his exertions and indefatigable industry in the early stages of our corporate existence we are much indebted for our present condition. During the last Summer and Autumn four Field Meetings were held at Topsfield, Manchester, North Danvers, and Lynn- field. They were well attended and excited considerable interest;—-many have expressed a wish that they should be continued the ensuing season. ‘The Evening Meetings have been held with much vigor and activity, commencing at the first of November and continuing on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Several meetings were likewise held in February and March, to act upon the proposals of the Salem Athenzeum for the occupancy of a portion of Plummer Hall. Satisfactory arrangements have been finally agreed upon, and a committee appointed to attend to the duty of removing the 180 library and collections to that building. This moyement will be considered a new era in the history of the Institute. Previ- ous to the final adjustment of the terms a subscription was commenced and the amount of 2680 dollars was raised to defray the expenses incident thereon, this was accomplished mainly through the indefatigable exertions of Hon. R. S. Rogers, who kindly consented to act as chairman of the com- mittee raised for that purpose. Contracts are in process of completion for additional cases and such alterations in the present ones as may be required for the arrangement of the collections. The first volume of the Proceedings, including the record of meetings, &c., to May, 1856, was printed and distributed during the past season. The second volume bringing the record up to the present time, is now in press. The following additions duting the year may be specified :— To tHe HisroricAL DEPARTMENT. Cha’s. F. Williams— Russian Musket, from Sevastopol. B. P. Chamberlain—In- dian Gouge, from Beverly. J. S. Sibley—a copper spoon taken from the spot on which was formerly a camp of Miles Standish, at Plymouth. Mrs. J. Tannatt—Minerals from Fort Putnam, Andre’s dungeon and the place where the chain was stretched across the Hudson, at West Point. EH. Pousland—a piece of the submarine Telegraph Cable. 8S. R. Curwen—several Danish coins. First Church of Beverly, by R. Rantoul— Specimens of continental paper money. Henry Upton—Fe- male necklace, and a fish-hook from Barrows Island, South Pacific. KE. P. Sargent—Chinese Note Paper and Envelopes, Bamboo Canes used for pipes, Josh Paper, also two Chinese paintings. James Ward—lIdol, spoon, dresses of the chiefs and common people from 8. W. coast of Africa. H. M. Brooks —piece of Charter Oak, Hartford, Conn., &c. &c. §. Carlen —Jndian arrow head. Mrs. Thomas Cole and Mrs. O. Parsons -—Several profiles and engravings. H. 8. Pratt—Piece of Birch tree felled by Beavers in the construction of dams. Moses Farmer—Specimens of Gyroscopes. To THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL History. Mammals. 181 John §. Ives—Cavia cobaya. Charles Chever—Procyon lotor. LL. R. Stone—Arvicola sp. W. C. Alden—Condylura cristata. W. C. Barton—Vespertilio sp. A. A. Smith— Vespertilio noveboracensis. J. C. Howard—Canis familiaris var. Chinese, &c. &c. Birds. C. Cook—Turdus Wilsonii. R. Brookhouse jr.— Falco columbarius, Rallus yirginianus, &c. &c. Miss8. D. Whittridge—Java Sparrow. Charles B. Haddock—Fulica americana. John Price—Ortygometra carolinensis. J. S. Shatswell—Tetrao canadensis. I. P. Ward—Buteo vulgaris, C. F. Putnam—Buboasio. G. A. Perkins—Mergulus alle. J. H. Leavitt—Birds from Africa. §. Jillson, of Lynn, Eggs of twenty-three species of birds, collected near Lynn, and the nests of eight species; also eggs and nests, from F. W. Put- nam, J. F. Webb, jr., C. Cook, G. F. Austin, J. H. Vent, E. P. Emmerton, and 8. B. Buttrick. Reptiles. C. J. Lee and C. R. Waters—Rana palustris, Col- uber eximius, &c. J. F. Webb, jr.—Rana sylvatica. A. Page, of South Danvers—Tropidonotus sipedon. F. W. Put- nam—Rana pipiens. J. Wyman, of Cambridge—Scaphiopus solitarius. EH. S. Thayer—Chelonura serpentina. R. H. Wheatland—Several species from Chicopee, Mass. 8. Jillson —Several species of Snakes from Lynn. P. D. Allen—Emys insculpta. EH. L. Perkins—Salamandra symmetrica. C. Cook —Hylodes Pickeringii. Fishes. R. H. Wheatland—Catastomus bostoniensis, Leu- ciscus pulchellus &c. from Chicopee, Mass. ;—also, Salmo fontinalis (young), &c. EF. W. Putnam—Pimelodus catus, Anguilla bostoniensis, &e. I. P. Ward—Lepidogaster from Pensacola, Florida. C. Cook, F. Winsor, G. E. Plander, 8S. F. Goldthwaite, S. Tenney, OC. G. Chever, W. Silver—Specimens of native species. N. E. Atwood, of Provincetown—fifteen species taken near Provincetown. D. M. Balch—Tetraodon sp. from St. Helena. S. Woodbury—Hippocampus sp. from Bank of Quero. Articulaies. W. J. Chever—Insects from Manila and Australia, Charles Derby—Insects and Crustacea, from 182 Sydney, N. 8. W. N. EH. Atwood—Crustacea from Province- town. L. Upton, of Springfield—Platyphyllum concavum. J. Dalton—Tarantula from Africa. A. Brooks, G. F. Austin, J. H. Vent, Miss Howe, G. F. Allen—Native species of Crustacea. Molluscs and Radiates. R. H. Wheatland—Holothuria squamosa. Charles Fraebel, of Cambridge—12 species of native shells. J. L. Russell—specimens of shells from Calli- fornia. Henry Cuming, of London—Paludomus loricatus, do. crenulatus, do. Gardnerii, do: chelinoides, do. Bennettii. W. J. Chever—Shells from Australia. Mrs. T. EH. Payson, Charles Osgood, H. F. Shepard, Mrs. J. D. Treadwell, 8S. R. Curwen, W. T. Julio, E. P. Sargent—Foreign shells. Joseph True—Several species of native shells. J. G. Anthony, of Cincinnati—Unio Conradius, Io spinosa, Io fluviatilis, Unio celatus, &c. OC. L. Peirson—Several species of shells from Minnesota. 8. Tufts, of Swampscott—A large collection of native shells, and Radiates. Comparative Anatomy. FE. W. Putnam—Anatomical preparation of Bufo americanus. H. F. Shepard—Skull of Camelus dromedarius, Sphyreena barracuda, &c. from Zanzibar, Jaws of a Shark. N. E. Atwood, of Provincetown—Skulls of Black fish. Mrs. J. D. Treadwell—Two human skeletons. Henry Upton—Skull of Uria sp. Thomas Hunt—Antlers of Cervus sp. from China. Herbarium. James Ward—Seed of Anacardium occiden- tale. H. F. Shepard—Ripe buds of the clove Caryophyllus aromaticus and specimens of Ladoicea sechellarum (sea coco). D. S. Emmerton—Specimens of Myristica moschata (nutmeg) and Coffea arabica (coffee). A. Page, of South Danvers, J. L. Russell, S. B. Buttrick, J. A. Emmerton, J. C. Lee— Native plants. Mineralogy and Geology. HH. J. Pratt—lIron ore from Maine. W. J. Chever—Minerals from the gold mines, Aus- tralia. Davis—Quicksilver ore California. Charles Derby—Minerals collected in Sydney and vicinity. C. L. Peirson—Specimens of minerals and the soil of Minnesota. J. 185 G. Willis—Malachite 8. W. coast of Africa. G. F. Read— Minerals from Lancaster county, Penn., Pachydomus sp. Devonian fossil. G. F. Potter—Lava taken in its fluid state from a crater-at Hilo, Owyhee also, volcanic glass. William Ives— Fossil encrinite stems from New York. ) Q “« 10 “ 138 “6 OAT 236 | Ground Ivy or’ Gill \ run-over-the ground. Lindernia pyxidaria ; common Lindernia. ) White Weed Ox Bye Leucanthemum vulgare a oe \ Daisy. Glechoma hederacaea Sarracenia purpurea; Side Saddle Flower. Trifolium repens ; White-clover. Rumex acctosella ; Sheep Sorrel. Osmunda cinnamomea; Tall Osmunda. Arethusa bulbosa; Bulbous Arethusa. Arethusa ophio-glossoides ; Adders Tongue. Potentilla argentea ; Silvery cinquefoil. Ss floribunda ; Bushy Potentilla. Viburnum dentatum; Arrow-wood. +Heracleum lanatum; Cow Parsnip. yActea alba; White Actea, Bane Berry. * rubra: Red BG “c cc Senecio aureus; Meadow Marigold. Solanum duleamara; Woody Night-Shade. “Geum rivale; Water Avens. Veratrum viride; White Hellebore, Indian Poke. *Cornus paniculata ; Hypoxis crecta; Star of Bethlehem. Medeola Virginica ; Cucumber-root. Cornus circinata; Round-leayed Cornel. ‘‘ alternifolia; Alternate-leaved ‘‘ “¢ alba; White-leaved cs ) Broad-leaved Cotton \ Grass, white tassels. tubus trivialis; Running Blackberry. Erigeron bellidifolium ; Mountain Daisy. ** Philadelphicum ; Philad Flea Bane. | Herb Robert, or { Mountain Geranium. Convallaria racemosa; Clustered Solomon’s Seal. Lupinus perennis ; Common Lupine. Kalmia angustifolia ; Low Laurel, Kill Lamb. *“Orobanche uniflora; One-flowered Brown Rape. Sanicula Marilandica; Sanicle. Raphanus raphanistrum ; Charlic, or Wild Radish Rubus occidentalis ; Thimbleberry. “« odorata; Flowering Raspberry. Achillea millefolium ; Yarrow. Fumaria officinalis; Common Fumitory. Eriophorum polystachyon Geranium Robertianum June 17 tre 4 24 26 30 July 2 ESSEX + Azalea viscosa ae 2a Rubus villosus ; High Blackberry. Cucubalus behen ; Bladder Campion. Oxalis stricta; Upright Wood-Sorrel. Vaccinium vesinosum ; Whortleberry. = : hirtellum ; Hairy a Pisum maritinum ; Beach Pea. Robinia pseudacacia; Locust. Kalmia latifolia: High Laurel. Lysimachia quadrifolia ; Four-leaved Loosestrife. 7Linnea borealis ; Twin-flower. Lycopsis Vi irginica : Virginia Lycopsis. {| Swamp Pink { Wild Honey Suckle. Diervilla Canadensis; Yellow Diervilla. Rosa lucida; Wild Rose. Briza media; Quaking Grass. Sedum acre; Golden Moss Wall Pepper. Bootia sylvestris ; Celastrus scandens; Roxbur y Wax-work. Rhus radieans; Poison Iv y. *Galium tinctorium; Dyer’s cleavers. Prunella vulgaris; Self-heal. Gaultheria procumbens ; Partridgeberry. Ligustrum vulgare ; Privet or Prim. Ornithogalum umbellatum ; Star of Bethlehem. Genista tinctoria ; Wood-waxen, Dyer’s Weed. Helianthemum Canadense ; Rock Rose. Arenaria lateriflora ; Starwort. Rosa rubiginosa; Eglantine, or Sweet Brier. Rubus saxatilis ; Stone Raspberry. Kpilobium spicatum ; Spiked-willow Herb. yAnagallis arvensis ; Scarlet Pimpernel. *Convolvulus sepium; Large Bindweed. *Pyrola elliptica; Oval-leaved Pyrola. eye secunda; One-sided ee Trifolium arvense ; Rabbit’s-foot, (clover) = DYN Youd Lepidium Virginicum wile ne ear oe Antirrhinum linaria; Toad-flax. Pyrola chlorantha ; Green flower’d Winter Green Melampyrum pratense ; Cow-wheat. Drosera rotundifolia; Round-leaved Sun Dew. “longifolia ; Long-leaved Sun Dew. INST: PRICEHD: Vow. 1 30." July 2 66 8 (1 8) 66 10 66 14 238 Myrica gale; Sweet Gale or Dutch Myrtle. Polygonum fagopyrum ; Buckwheat. Arenaria rubra; Sandwort ; Mitchella repens; Chequerberry or moxy. Aralia racemosa ; Spikeward. Nymphea odorata; White Water Lily. Spirea alba; White Spirea or Meadow Sweet. Cymbidium pulchellum ; Grass Pink. Eriophorum Virginianum ; Brown Cotton Grass. *Adiantum pedatum; Maiden Hair. Myosotis laxa ; Forget-me-not. *Cunila pulegioides ; Pennyroyal. Anemone Viriniana; Tall Anemone. Hypericum perforatum ; St. John’s Wort. ts ascyroides ; Giant St. John’s Wort. + Impatiens noli me tangere ; Jewel Weed-Touch- me-not. *Hypericum parvifolium ; Small flowered St. [ John’s Wort. Sarracenia purpurea; SideSaddle flower. 7Geum strictum; Yellow avens. +Orchis fambriata; Fimbriated Orchis. Antheimis cotula; Mayweed. (inothera pumila ; Tree Primrose. Pyrola rotundifolia ; Round leaved Wintergreen. 7Calla palustris; Northern Calla. Vaccinium macrocarpon ; Cranberry. Sambucus Canadensis ; Common Elder. *Thalictrum corynellum ; Meadow Rue. + Veronica anagallis; Water Speedwell. +Coptis trifolia; Goldthread. 7Galium asprellum; Rough Cleavers. + ‘ obtusum; Goose Grass. Malva rotundifolia ; Round leaved Mallows. Eriophorum alpinum ; Alpine Cotton Grass. Lilium Canadense ; Canada Lily (yellow) “¢ Philadelphicum ; Philadelphia Lily (red). Hottonia inflata; Inflated Hottonia. Prinos verticillata; Black Alder. }Lysimachia thyrsiflora; Tufted Loosetrife. Polygala rubella; Bitter Polygala. Lysimachia hybrida; Hybrid Loosetrife; es stricta; Upright. s July 13 Dianthus armeria; Wild Pink. 14 *Ceanothus Americanus; Jersey Tea. 99 6c 66 66 i 1 2 *Proserpinaca palustris; Mermaid Weed. Cicuta maculata; American or Water Hemlock. *Utricularia cornuta ; Horned Utricularia. Asclepias Syriaca; Milk Weed. es pulchra ; Water Milk Weed. *Circea lutetiana; Enchantress Night-Shade. 6 Lobelia pallida; Pale Lobelia ; *Circea alpina ; Alpine Enchantress Night-Shade. Clematis Virginica ; Virein’s Bower. Rudbeckia hirta ; Lactuca integrifolia; Arrow-leaved Lettuce. Eriophorum angustifolium ; Narrow-leaved Cot- ton Grass. Solanum dulcamara ; Woody Night-Shade. Convolvulus arvensis; Small Bindweed. *Campanula Americana; American Bell-flower. Potamogeton heterophyllum ; Veiny-leaved Pond Weed. 7 *Acorus calamus; Sweet Flag. Tanacetum vulgare ; Tansy. *Bartsia coccinea ; Painted Cup. Apocynum androsemifolium ; Dogbane. Pastinaca sativa; Wild Parsnip. Rhus glabra; Smooth Sumack. Bunias edentula; Sea Rocket. Cymbidium pulchellum ; Tuberous Cymbidium. Pyrola rotundifolia ; Round-leaved Wintergreen. Prinos verticellatus ; Black Alder. Leonurus cardiaca; Motherwort. Verbascum thapsus ; Mullein. Sagittaria sagittifolia; Arrow-Head. Rhus typhina; Stag’s Horn or Velvet Sumach. “¢ vernix ; Poison Dogwood. Utricularia vulgaris; Bladder-wort. 2 Asclepias purpurascens ; Dark-flowered Silk-weed *Polygonum sagittatum ; Arrow-leaved Bind-weed. Melissa officinalis; Balm. Lupinus perennis; Common Lupine. *Clinopodium vulgare; Wild Basil. Cnicus arvense ; Canada Thistle. Orchis psycodes ; Ragged Orchis. be August 1 240 *Antirrhinum Canadense; Canada Snap Dragon. Kthusa cynapium ; Fool’s Parsley. Statice Caroliniana; Marsh Rosemary. Carpinus ostrya; Hop-Hornbeam, or Jron-wood. Pontederia cordata ; Pickerel-weed. *Galeopsis tetrahit ; Common Hemp Nettle. *Agrimonia Hupatoria; Agrimony. Apargia autumnalis ; Autumnal Hawkweed. “Hrigeron officinale ; Hedge Mustard. Spiraea tomentosa; Hardhack. *Vicia cracca; Tufted Vetch. Rudbeckia laciniata ; Rudbeckia. Solidago (several species) Golden Rod. “Hydrocotyle Americana; Pennywort. | Cardinal Flower or Pride of \ the meadow. Mimulus ringens; Monkey-flower. Gnaphalium margaritaceum; Life Everlasting. Monotropa uniflora; Ghost Plant, or Indian Pipe. Orchis blephariglottis; White Orchis. ov adilatatare ball Onrcliis: Collinsonia Canadensis; Horse Balm. Podalyria tinctoria ; Wild Indigo. “Campanula erinoides ; Slender Bell-flower. Prenanthes alba; White Lettuce. Lactuca elongata ; Wild Lettuce or Fire-weed. Lobelia inflata ; Indian Tobacco. Kupatorium perfoliatum ; Thoroughwort, Boneset. purpurewm ; Trumpet-weed. Silene Pennsylvanica; Catch-Fly or Wild Pink. *“Scutellaria galericulata ; Common Scull-cap. Potentila fruticosa ; Shrubby Cinquefoil. Elodea Virginica; Meadow St. Johnswort. Polygala sanguinea ; Century, or- Purple Polygala. Cephalanthus occidentalis ; Button Bush. *Polygola paucifolia ; Fringed Polygala. Gnaphalium polycephalum ; Fragrant Life Ever- lasting. Lespedeza divergens ; Spreading Lespedeza. Cuscuta Americana; Dodder. *Cichorium intybus ; Succory, or Cichory. +Asclepias tuberosa; Butterfly weed. *Hypericum Vireinicum; Virginia St. Johnswort. Lobelia cardinalis ; 241 August 6 Arctium lappa; Burdock. - 10 *Sedum Telephium; House-leck or Live Forever. *Scutellaria viridifolia ; [ ¢ ] Datura stramonium ; Thorn-apple,or Apple Peru. *Corallorhiza multiflora; Coral Root. Circium pea ; Pasture Thistle. *Hieracium seabrum; Rough Hawkweed. Rhexia Vireinica ; Meadow Beauty. Hehanthus annuus; Sunflower may & ibe 1) |) (Roman: Vielx: cline or Indian 15 Sida abutilon ; ¢ Mall allows. « 19 *Cassia Marilandica ; Wild Senna. ~ Gerardia flava; Yellow Gerardia. ee tenuifolia; Slender Gerardia. Verbena hastata; Blue Vervain. i ae ver eialion White Vervain. Gerardia maritima; Sea Ge1 ee Cnicus glutinosus; Glutinous Thistle. “Penthorum sedoides ; Virginia Stone Crop. Clethra alnifolia ; Spiked Alder. Lycopus Virgini:us; Bugle Weed. a i sinuatus ; Water Hoarhound. Alisma plantago; Water Plantain. *“Hchinocystis lobata; Wild Balsam Apple. Liatris scariosa ; Devil’s Bit. | Small Purple Fringed { Orchis. Sicyos angulatus ; Wild Cucumber. *Diplopappus umbellatus ; Umbellated Aster. Glycine apios; Ground Nut. “Desmodium Canadense ; Canadian Trefoil. 5 : _, | Tear-thumb or Scratch Polygonum sagittatum ; | Grass “Plantanthera psycodes ; - convolvulus; Black Bindweed. Solidago laevigata; Marsh Golden Rod. Se c or Tic = Slender [ lies’ Tr < Spiranthes gracilis; Slender Ladies’ Tresses. ** 24 Mentha borealis; Horsemint. “* 25 Polygonum scandens; Climbing Polygonum. : Brown Marigold, Harvest Bidens frondosa ; oe Ce ae § lice, Beggar’s Ticks. Aster; several species. Sonchus oleraceus ; Sow Thistle. Phaseolus triloba ; Three lobed Bean Vine. ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. i.’ 31. 242 August 25 Chelone glabra; Snakehead. “Bidens cernua; Nodding Burr Marigold. ‘« erysanthemoides; Large Flowering Bidens. *Trichostema dichotoma; Blue Curls. Sept. 1 *Solidago altissima; Rough leaved Golden Rod. CG i Sirens’ bicolor; White Rayed sé Kt eS ace lanceolata; Narrow leaved “ Ge: 6 odora ; Spicy & ek SD aaa sempervivens; Evergreen ‘“ - Helianthus strumosus; Wild Sunflower. *Mieracium Kalmii; Kalm’s Hawkweed. *Aster Novanglie ; New England Aster. *Amphicarpa monica; Wild Pea vine. *Coreopsis trichosperma ; Tick-seed Sunflower. *Lathyrus maritimus; Marsh Pea. “© 8 *Potentilla Norvegica; Norway Cinquefoil. “Centaurea nigra ; Knapweed. 20 7Gentiana saponaria; Soapwort Gentian. gs: crinita; Fringed Gentian. Oct. 10 Hamamelis Vireinica; Witch Hazel. Thursday, Junuary 28, 1858. Kyening meeting at half past seven o’clock, the Vice Pres- ident Russell, in the chair. The list of donations was read as follows, viz: To the Library—trom Alpheus Crosby ; Essex Agricultu- ral Society ; John Ball; Charles W. Palfray ; John L. Rus- sell; Henry K. Oliver of Lawrence ; Humphrey Devereux ; William S. Roberts ; Caleb Foote ; Edward Barnard ; Mon- treal Society of Natural History. To the Cabinets—trom Alfred Walcott; Charles A. Put- nam; R. Brookhouse, jr; Hlisha Haskell; Benjamin A. West. Letters from Charles B. Norton, of New York, respecting exchanges, were read. 243 The Institute listened to an account of the capture, on the West Coast of Sumatra, of the ship FrrenpsuIP, on Feb- ruary 1831 ; a paper prepared by Charles M. Endicott and to be found published in the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. 1, page 15. On motion of Henry J. Cross, a vote of thanks was ten- dered to Mr. Endicott, for his interesting and historical doc- ument. It was also Vofed to adjourn. Monday, February 15, 1858. Evening meeting at half past seven o’clock, Vice Presi- dent Russell, presiding. The donations since the meeting of 28th instant were an- nounced as follows, viz: To the Library—from W. H. Kilby, of Eastport, Me.; Boston Society of Natural History; Robert Manning ; Thomas T. Stone, of Bolton; John L. Russell; Henry M. Brooks; N. J. Lord ; Thomas Trask. To the Cabinets—from B. H. Silsbee; J. C. Howard ; Henry F. Shepard; J. C. Very ; Thomas Trask. John L. Russell in some observations upon the difficulty of procuring complete files of old newspapers, and the great value attached to such files in libraries, added te which the difficulty of supplying any that should be lost, offered the following resolves which were unanimously adopted : Resolved, that all bound volumes and files of Newspapers belonging to the Essex Institute be permanently kept in its Reading rooms, and that none be taken therefrom, by any member or other person, unless by special written permission of the curators of the Historical Department. DA4 Resolved, that the librarian or temporarily acting libra- rian of the Essex Institute ascertain what volumes and files are taken out; and that he notify the holders of them to. return the same immediately. Several curious and interesting specimens of Aloe brought from Zanzibar and presented to the herbarium by Henry F. Shepard were alluded to by the Chair ; mention being made of Zonaria pavonia, Turbinaria decurrens, and of a lime en- crusted species, the Catenella opuntia. These specimens were casually thrown among some marine zoological speci- mens but were of much value, and in the case of the second mentioned, was of considerable rarity. In collecting foreign specimens in one department, it were well to bear in mind that those of another, would not be amiss. Oftentimes the microscopist is rewarded by careful search among the sand and caleareous dust of sponges from abroad, and the bota- nist finds beautiful mosses and lichens among the packing of shells and minerals, especially if collected inland, and away from civilized hfe. The agency of many plants in depositing strata of lime, silica &e., was illustrated by famil- iar instances, an agency so eee trivial when viewed in some confined and narrow way, but grand and overwhelm- ing when the mighty results seen in geological characteristi¢s were apprehended. Suggestions of a horticultural bearing were made by Robert Manning; of these the grafting the pear upon the ‘quince for a stock: also the extent and limits of erafting in general: the ees of intermediate grafting and its most promising means of success. He considered it important to secure a good size to the first graft before a second was set upon it. The mode of using the quince for a stock was considered in its merits: and the probable reason why some kind of pears will readily unite with it, while others will not: and hence the need of the intermediate process. By some experiments by Mr. Henry F. Kina with the microscope, Mr. Manning had been assured by inspection and measure- 245 . ments of the size of the cells in the bark tissues that the anastomizing might not be readily effected between the grow- ing and vital parts of the quince and the particular variety of the pear that was under experimental treatment. It was due to Mr. King’s courtesy and delicate manipulation with the instrument, that he ventured on these remarks. Allusions were made to the failure of the apple crop for the last few years; also to the unfavorable aspect of the fruit crop during the past season: but it was noticeable however that certain varieties, which were ordinarily difficult of cul- tivation, had, this season, produced finer specimens than usual. The value of the Annual Exhibition of fruits and flowers was made the subject of some reflections, and the hope was entertained by the speaker that with greater facil- ities this value would be proportionally enhanced. The cul- tivation of the native grapes was also alluded to, as a subject engaging the attention of horticulturist and likely to produce most valuable results in agricultural pursuits. The Chair was gratified with the train of thought pur- sued by Mr. Manning in his address this evening. He was acquainted with several amateurs in horticulture in this city, who with very small parcels of ground, were producing much that would be important in grape culture. Among these, mention should be made of John Fiske Allen’s success- ful hybridization and subsequently of the experiments of Messrs. Edward 8. and Augustus D. Rogers.