10 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The committee have been very fortunate in the selection of a 

 chairman, Mr. Nathan C. Ely, who has devoted considerable time 

 during the last three years in presiding over the meetings of the 

 club. The distribution of seed, &c., commenced some years ago, 

 has greatly increased during the last two years. Mr. Chambers, 

 the Secretary, has received during the last year over 12,000 let- 

 ters from persons asking for seed — all have been supplied. 



Mr. James B. Olcott last year sent to the club a barrel of Rhode 

 Island sAveet corn for gratuitous distribution. This corn was of a 

 very superior quality. From the notice given in one of the reports 

 of the club, the applications were so numerous that a large num- 

 ber had to lay over for the want of the corn to send. Mr. Olcott, 

 on being informed of the fact, sent to the club this winter two 

 barrels more of the same variety. By means of this donation, all 

 the applicants have been supplied. This duty has consumed much 

 time, but has been cheerfully attended to by our Secretary. 



The great notoriety given to the proceedings of the club is 

 eminently due to the veteran agricultural editor of 21ie Trihune, 

 Mr. Solon Robinson, who, for the past seventeen years, has so 

 ably reported the discussions, and we hope his valuable services 

 may be long continued. An able corps of reporters now attend 

 the meetings of the club, whose reports are published weekly in 

 a number of leading papers. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



JOHN G. BERGEN, 

 P. T. QUINN, 

 GEORGE BARTLETT, 



