2 [Senate 



With the further view of making the members and the public bet- 

 ter acquainted with the concerns and operations of the Institute, this 

 report is submitted in all confidence that it will not be deemed ob- 

 trusive, but that it will be as acceptable as the first, which was honor- 

 ed by being printed, and numbered with the Legislative documents 

 of the State. A few extra copies for distribution among our inquir- 

 ing agriculturists would be of trifling expense, and might contribute 

 to extend the spirit of agricultural improvement. 



It has been the intention in this report, to embrace generally those 

 transactions which have arisen out of the agricultural department of 

 the Institute during the past year, passing over most of the other 

 proceedings without even a reference. Multitudes of reports made 

 at stated meetings by committees on scientific and mechanical sub- 

 jects; and by judges at our fairs on inventions, &c. are entirely 

 omitted, because if included, they would form a volume too formi- 

 dable for publication. 



The names of the officers are given at length; many of them are 

 extensively known, and possess the confidence of the public. A 

 large majority are practical men, who stand high in the different pro- 

 fessions and occupations in which they are engaged. Their respec- 

 tive dutives are defined in the by-law^s, and in the records of the pro- 

 ceedings of meetings. 



To the Managers, aided by the Trustees, is assigned the conducting 

 of the Fairs which are held once a year; and their design is especially 

 to promote and perfect the agriculture of our country. The circu- 

 lars giving notice of the Fifteenth Annual Fair will be found marked A, 

 naming the time, place, and the general plan of proceedings, and 

 designating premiums for contributions, which need the stimulus of 

 competition to bring them to perfection. The tardy advances of ag- 

 riculture compared with mechanism and the arts, attributable very 

 much, no doubt, to the scattered condition of that great interest, has in- 

 duced the Managers greatly to increase the number of promised pre- 

 miums in advance, with the design of bringing an early influence to 

 bear on agriculture and horticulture. The effect has been to multi- 

 ply at our Fairs, the exhibited agricultural articles tenfold in a few 

 years. 



