NOTICES OF SOCIETIES. 



Jl ntitps nf InrittirH. 



American Institute— Annual Fair. 



"We attended the Annual Fair of the American 

 Institute, held at New- York during the past 

 month, for the purpose of inspecting the horticul- 

 tural and floral departments, and we proceed to 

 lay before our readers sumo remarks upon those 

 portions of it which appeared to us most de- 

 serving our notice. Before doing so, we cannot 

 refrain from expressing our gratification at the 

 magnificent display which the Fair presented of 

 our country's science, energy andindustry, in al- 

 most every department of manufacture and art, 

 and we have also to thank the chairman of the 

 horticultural committee, Peter B. Mead, Esq., 

 for his obliging politeness in acceding to our re- 

 quest for permission to make use of bis lists of 

 the adjudication of premiums by the judges, to 

 assist us in the i)reparation of this report. 



There were some fine specimens of Apples ex- 

 hibited, and the display of them, as a whole, 

 was the principal feature of tlie fruit exhibition. 

 The silver cup for the greatest number of choice 

 named varieties, was gained by John W. Bai- 

 ley, of Plattsburgh, N. Y., wlio exhibited 65 

 varieties; and the silver medal, for the second 

 best, by W. J. Carpenter, of Harrison, "West- 

 chester county, N. Y., who produced 40 varie- 

 ties; the third premium was given, for 23 vari- 

 eties, to IraCondit, of Essex county, N.J. For 

 the smaller collections of apples, a discretion- 

 ary premium was awarded for 25 varieties to 

 Isaac J. Underbill, of Seacaneus. N. J., a col- 

 lection which was highly creditable; and al- 

 though not nearly so numerons as those above 

 mentioned, we doubt whether an equal number 

 of such fine fiuit could have been selected from 

 either of the large collections. Amongst them 

 was a fine apple in appearance, named the Con- 

 gress apple, which, we were informed, was a 

 seedling variety, which lias not been exhibited 

 before the present year; and of which the flavor 

 is represented to be fine. If this is so, and its 

 bearing and keeping (jualities are good .it bids fair 

 to become a favorite. There were several small 

 collections of apples exbihifi.'d, sume of wbieli 

 -e notice, altbnngb wi' tbiik the jndges 

 cised a sound discretion in not awarding 



premiums to them : because, however fine and 

 handsome a single small basket of apples may 

 be. unless it is a new rariety, or has some es- 

 pecial recommendation to entitle it to notice, it 

 is not within the intention of these exhibitions 

 to give rewards for a few fruits, however fine, 

 which are readily selected from, may be, a 

 large orchard. On the other band, it is not, on 

 that account, the less praiseworthy in exhibi- 

 tors to send any small contribution of the sort, 

 which is sufficiently conspicuous to attract no- 

 tice; inasmuch as it evinces a commendable in- 

 terest in these undertakings, and shows a de- 

 sire to assist in their advancement; whilst the 

 knowledge that, although all small exhibitors 

 cannot obtain premiums, the merit that is due to 

 their productions is not overlooked by the pub- 

 lic, will, we trust, encourage sucli exhibitors to 

 a perseverance whicli on some future occasion 

 may obtain for them a place by the side of their 

 more fortunate competitors on the present oc- 

 casion. For this reason we notice with satis- 

 faction the following, which formed conspicuous 

 objects: A fine basket of Belle Bamders ap- 

 ples, exhibited by S. E. G. Rawson, of New- 

 York, a label to which stated them to be a part 

 of 35 bushels from a single tree. Many who 

 admired them, will doubtless wish a fellow tree 

 to be growing in their own orchard. Three 

 plates of remarkably handsome ai)ples from 

 George Proceus, of Red Hook, Dutcliess coun- 

 ty ; some fine Newtown Pippins from W. A. IJn- 

 derhilt, Croton Point, were very handsome fruit, 

 but barely ripe. A large dish of tlie Sherwood 

 Seedling "Wax apple, attracted much notice, 

 exhibited by L. "W. Annan, N. Y. A hand- 

 some basket of Gloria Mundi apples, from C. 

 T. R. Applegate, of Hightown, N. J. A bas- 

 ket of very fine fruit fr«m Richard Read, of 

 Clarksburgh, Monmoth county, N. J. All 

 these collections were very pleasing to the eye, 

 and could not fail to sati.sfy the observer, that 

 the growers of them are amongst those who 

 meritoriously uphold our reputation for this 

 valuable fruit. A pyramid of apples, wliich oc- 

 cupied the centre of the table, contained some 

 good specimens, and was furnished by Cal 



