71 



day, an art museum may be formed. The recent intro- 

 duction of drawing into our public schools, the increased 

 attention given to artistic studies, and a growing appreci- 

 ation of sivilled labor, and the large reniuneration it com- 

 mands, require that some efforts by the Institute should 

 be given in this direction. To meet these increasing 

 demands of the public upon our resources, may we not 

 reasonably expect a liberal response from members and 

 friendti ? 



Horticultural exhibitions have been very successfully 

 conducted during the past season. The old zeal that, 

 years long since, actuated our movements in this direction, 

 seems to have been renewed in a younger generation 

 and to burn 'with an undiminished lustre. A series of 

 twelve exhibitions have lieen held, commencing on Mon- 

 day, May 2'Jth, and closing on Wednesday, November 

 8th, including two, opened only during the evening, for 

 the display of the night blooming cereus, and the annual 

 in Se})tember, opened to the public from Tuesday, the 

 19th, to Friday, the 22d. On this latter occasion, the 

 hall was very tastefully decorated with festoons and 

 wreaths of evergreens, stands and baskets of flowers; 

 many choice pot plants and a goodly collection of fruits 

 and vegetables were placed upon the tables. Contribu- 

 tions were received not only from those having extensive 

 grounds, but from many whose gardens were of limited 

 dimensions. The aggregate made tine exhibitions, and 

 varied with tlx; successive ap[)earance of those showy and 

 attractive objects that adorn the garden, coming and going 

 at regular intervals, marking with great exactness the 

 progress of the seasons in their animal course. The attend- 

 ance was large and the general interest manifested by 

 the visitors seemed to indicate that our humble efforts iu 



