10 [Senate 



Room the favorite room of the Fair. This we have learned by expe- 

 rience. 



The plan of distributing books on agriculture, as premiums, adopt- 

 ed at the Fair before last, has been extended. They answer every 

 purpose as testimonials of merit. They are so selected as to carry 

 with them appropriate and useful instruction, which will be more 

 or less diffused by their distribution. Beside, the sale of these valu- 

 able works is increased by the purchases required for premiums; in 

 addition to which, their selection for the purpose of premiums by 

 competent agriculturists, is the best recommendation of their merit, 

 and they, by these means, are most extensively and favorably brought 

 to the notice of the public. It operates intrinsically as a premium 

 to the authors of valuable American publications on agriculture, gar- 

 dening, &c. as well as to the exhibitor to whom they are awarded, 

 as they are known to be selected for the purposes of premium on ac- 

 count of the high estimation in which they are held by competent 

 judges acquainted with their contents. 



The report of the Managers of the Fifteenth Annual Fair by their 

 chairman, John Campbell, (marked G.) is in accordance with former 

 usage; and read at a stated meeting. It contains among other things 

 a summary of the receipts and expenditures; premiums; comparative 

 statement of receipts and expenditures of the Annual Fairs for eight 

 years, and excess of receipts over expenditures for the same time, 

 with remarks; improvements in conducting the Cattle show, for 

 the benefit of exhibitors; the plowing exhibition; horticultural de- 

 partment; seeds for gratuitious distribution; blowing up of a ship 

 by Colt's submarine battery; Francis' life boat; Morse's magnetic 

 telegraph; boat races, &c.; receipts and expenditures of the same; 

 remarks on looking for a suitable place to hold our future Fairs; a 

 spacious edifice required belonging to the Institute; a depository of 

 information for farmers, with all the useful varieties of machines and 

 implements in husbandry, " and all the complications of machinery 

 connected with the mechanic arts." Duplicates of Patent-Office in- 

 ventions, with libraries and reading rooms, and permanent and suita- 

 ble accommodations for holding the annual Fairs — not visionary, 

 when it is considered that the American Institute from nothing, has 

 attained to what it now is. 



