414 [Senate 



The trustees will not attempt even a reference to all the records of 

 doings, and the papers that have come under their consideration with- 

 in the last year. Those appended will afford some partial idea of 

 their objects and merits. 



Consultation meetings, composed of some of the principal officers 

 and members of the Institute, are held daily at the Repository, to 

 overlook the correspondence, direct the distribution of seeds, &c., ex- 

 amine models, machines and proposed improvements, and answer in- 

 quiries constantly making by strangers and citizens, connected with 

 their occupations. The inquiries are almost incessant through the 

 day for articles shown at the Repository or at the Fairs — a record of 

 which has been kept as a directory for the accommodation of pur- 

 chasers, &c. 



The Conversation Meetings have been held spring, winter and au- 

 tumn, one evening every week. Reports of the proceedings of se- 

 veral of these meetings are among the appended papers. The Con- 

 versation Meetings are invaluable schools for manufacturers and me- 

 chanics, who by their means, can in a few hours possess themselves 

 of information, whi*^h has cost others years to acquire. Great num- 

 bers attend, listen and learn, who never could have been persuaded 

 to read, and would have forever remained deficient in knowledge of 

 the highest importance in their occupations. 



Meetings of the Board of Agriculture and New-York Farmers' 

 Club have been held monthly, the first and third Tuesday. The first 

 for the transaction of the business of the Institute, appertaining to 

 agriculture. The Club, consisting of farmers, gardeners, and friends 

 of agriculture, have met for free conversation on the subject of their 

 occupations. All strangers in the city have, through the public pa- 

 pers, been invited to attend these meetings. A subject is named and 

 published before the meeting, and a portion of the time of the meet- 

 ing devoted to the discussion of the subject so named. All the at- 

 tendants are invited to participate in the conversations. The trustees 

 believe this the best mode ever devised for diffusing useful agricultu- 

 ral knowledge, and they respectfully recommend to the State Society, 

 that efforts be made to establish them in all suitable localities in the 

 State. The Institute will cheerfully render their hearty co-operation 

 in such efforts. Extracts from the proceedings of the Club are 

 among the annexed papers. 



The stated meetings of the members of the Institute have been 

 held monthly, in conformity to the charter, when members have 

 been admitted, correspondence read, and reports of standing and 

 special committees discussed and passed upon. All moneys re- 

 ceived by the Institution are deposited with the treasurer, and 

 cannot be withdrawn, except under an appropriation at one of 

 these meetings. Each item is read, showing what the money is 

 wanted for, before the appropriation can be made. All the books 

 and accounts are open to every member, and all the vouchers 

 accessible. This has prevented any defalcation in the funds of 

 the Institute, and is not only a security against the misappli- 

 cation of funds, but secures the confidence of the members in the 



