18 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE EIGHTEE^'TH ANNUAL FAIR OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



We learn with great pleasure that the Insti- 

 tute is already eng^aged in making preparations 

 for the Fair in October next Its exertions have 

 been unremitting in the endeavor to give to 

 these Annual assemblages of the improved 

 productions of Agriculture and the Mechanic 

 Arts, every attraction that their high national 

 importance demands. The remarkable ingenu- 

 ity and ceaseless action of our People gains from 

 year to year with wonderful rapidity. May we 

 not then fairly anticipate a higher treat from 

 the next Fair than we have ever had before ? 

 The Institute, unaided and unsustained except 

 by its ov^Ti energy, had a number of visitors at 

 its last Fair, said to be one-half as great as that 

 of the great Fair of Paris, which is held but 

 once in Jive years — and to vs-hich the French 

 Government lends its powerfiil aid, by causing 

 the whole kingdom to be examined by com- 

 missioners, for the selection of the most interest- 

 ing articles for the exhibition, and paying the 

 expenses of their transportation to Paris. 



The number of citizens who visited the last 

 Fair of the Institute, was about ttco hundred 

 and fffy thousand, while Pari.s contains about 

 three times the population of New-York. 



Niblo's Garden is engaged for the central ex- 

 hibition. Fields for the plov^ing and spading 

 matches will be selected, as convenient as pos- 

 sible, for all classes of citizen visitors. 



The Cattie Show will be held on the Fifth- 

 avenue at Twenty-third and. Twenty-fourth 

 streets ; a spot affording space and convenience 

 for the exhibition and for the visitors. Arrange- 

 ments are in progress for premiums upon a 

 much larger scale, for high-bred cattle — for fat 

 bullocks — for working oxen — milch cows — for 

 sheep of the best blood — for fat mutton, i:c. — 

 and for horses for draft, race, &;c., which it is 

 to be hoped wiU insure an exhibition worthy of 

 the American Institute. 



This opportunity for buyers and sellers of fine 

 stock of every sort, should not be overlooked by 

 them. Those who -wish to find out v^-itliout 

 trouble, all collected together, specimens of the 

 best home-made articles of every kind — wiU 

 have the advantage of seeing them on one spot 

 at the Fair. Inventors will be anxious to ex- 

 amine the results of genius applied to various 

 productions since the last Fair, and to show to 

 thousands their own improved works. 

 (66) 



The Institute will give larger premiums than 

 heretofore to a given number of the most new 

 and useful inventions and improvements. Dur- 

 ing the last year, the Institute has distributed 

 large numbers of new and valuable seeds — and 

 on the condition of receiving a part of their pro- 

 duce for the purpose of fiirther distribution — 

 and some of their products for the Agricultural 

 and Horticxiltural Exhibition. This will be a 

 guarantee for a grand display. 



It is desired to afford every encouragement to 

 the ftill exertion of that capacity for invention 

 and improvement which has already enabled 

 our Countiy to compete with all the world in 

 .such matters. 



One American has, by his genius, increased 

 twenty-fold the Cotton crop of the planting 

 States. Another is remembered bj- the won- 

 derful success of Steam Kavigation, destined to 

 revolutionize the Commerce of the Avorld. — 

 These efforts of the Institute to increase the in- 

 dustry and cherish the genius of our country- 

 men, oaght to stimulate the good feeling, the 

 national pride of every great man ^^"ho loves his 

 country, to lend his aid in carrying into the ful- 

 lest execution the noble object in view ; and an 

 example is already before us in the exertions of 

 the Sovereigns and Nobles of Europe, which 

 surely cannot be lost upon this Republic. The 

 ambition to stirpass them in aU the arts wiiich 

 give happiness to mankind should be found 

 strong and enduring. 



In the noble competition now existing 

 throughout the civihzed world, to foster arts, 

 which it behoves RepubUcs. above all govern- 

 ments, to cherish and protect, .\jnerica must 

 not allow herself to be outdone. 



The diird National Convention of Farmers 

 and Gardeners and Silk Culturists is contem- 

 plated to meet during the Fair. 



The Home Department for Agriculture so 

 eamestiy pressed by General Wa-shington, at 

 the last session of Congress tmder his Adminis- 

 tration, will again be a subject of the most se- 

 rious consideration by tlie Convention — and 

 every effort wiU be made to awaken die atten- 

 tion of the Nation to that subject, and also 

 special attention vitU be paid to the culture of 

 SUk, to enable us xs soon as practicable to realize 

 the benefit of another great National Agricul- 

 tural staple 



