No. 105.] 467 



corresponding with the intrinsic importance of their occupation. 

 Great quantities of rare and useful seeds have been received, and 

 distributed within the last year — more than thirty varieties at a single 

 meeting, many of them obtained through government agents, naval 

 officers, missionaries, travellers, &c., in foreign countries. No small 

 proportion of the most admired productions, both of the farm and 

 garden, exhibited at the last fair, were from seeds supplied by the 

 club. Our table has been often covered with grafts of choice fruit, 

 which have been carefully and discreetly distributed. 



There is in our country unoccupied ground sufficient for such an 

 abundance of fine fruit as will supply our whole population, and add 

 greatly to their health and happiness. Let the numberless clubs 

 already formed and forming follow the example, and at their outset 

 resolve to press its prosecution simultaneously at the proper season, 

 and the orchards and vineyards of America will very soon be the ad- 

 miration of the world. 



The stated meetings of the members of the Institute have been 

 held every month in conformity to the charter. Great unanimity has 

 prevailed in the transactions of the meetings, and a determination to 

 carry into effect the legitimate designs of the association. The in- 

 creasing correspondence, with reports of committees on models and 

 machines, of new inventions and improvements submitted and dis- 

 cussed, have been interesting and instructive. The committee on 

 arts and sciences, and also on manufactures, examine and report on 

 all inventions, discoveries and improvements referred to them. The 

 inventor, discoverer, or fabricator, has only to ask from the Institute a 

 reference, and it is granted of course. The committees are selected 

 from the most scientific and skilful men in this part of the country ; 

 and we are not aware that in a single instance these reports have 

 proved fallacious. 



All the accounts of the Institute are submitted to meetings of the 

 members. By the by-laws all monies received on account of the In- 

 stitute are deposited with the treasurer, and they cannot be drawn out 

 without an appropriation by the meeting, and no appropriation can be 

 made without a statement first submitted showing the purposes for 

 which it is wanted. All the accounts are audited by the finance 

 committee, and vouchers required for every item. Their report is 

 submitted to the meeting with the vouchers, and both the accounts 



[Senate, No. 105.] 30 



