166- [Senate 



The Report of the board of managers the last year, presented th^s 

 subject to the Institute, with sorae valuable suggestions well worthy 

 of consideration. 



The practice of having short addresses occasionally, which was 

 found so attractive during the l5th Fair, was again adopted with 

 advantage. Nine of these addresses, beside the anniversary, the ag- 

 ricultural, and the closing addresses, were delivered on the evenings 

 of the Fair by members of the Institute, and others friendly to its ob- 

 jects. Some of them by gentlemen eminent at the bar, on the bench 

 and in the halls of legislation, and others by experienced practic A 

 men, who have cheerfully given their aid to this patriotic work* 

 Their tendency is to create an intellectual interest, and to elevate the 

 character of the Institute. Being short and clothed in graceful and 

 captivating language, they hf>,ve generally been reported for publica- 

 tion in the daily papers, by means of whose extensive circulation, 

 attention is thus attracted to the Fair, and the number of visitors in- 

 creased. 



A ploughing match, under the superintendence of a committee ap- 

 pointed by the board of agriculture, was held on the 16th day oi 

 October, at Paterson, N. J. This was attended by a large number 

 of our citizens, and a vast concourse of the neighboring farmers and 

 strangers from various parts of the country — probably not much less- 

 than 4,000 in number, in whose presence the trial of skill and exam- 

 ination of the several ploughs offered for premiums, took place. 



Several addresses were delivered, and the occasion proved highly 

 gratifying and pleasant to the spectators, as well as creditable to the 

 Institute, under whose auspices it was held. A detailed report of 

 the ploughing, and the relative merits of the ploughs, will be found 

 among the accompanying papers. To Col. Bankhead, the com- 

 mandant of the U. S. troops on this station, and to Capt. Gregory, of 

 the ship North Carolina, the managers are indebted for tie valuable 

 services of their bands of musicians, politely given on this, and sev- 

 eral other occasions during the Fair. Also to the Jersey ferry, and 

 Paterson railroad companies, for the gratuitous conveyance of the 

 committee, with their guests, and all the teams, implements, &c., both 

 to and from the scene of this portion of our annual jubilee. 



The silk convention called by the trustees, which constituted a part 

 of the late Fair, was calculated to be of enduring interest to our 

 country. The object was to obtain all the information which the ex- 

 perience of all the silk growers and manufacturers in the U. S. could 

 aSbrd. Questions calulated for this purpose were carefully prepared, 

 and addressed to them in circulars, and extensively published. 



Those who could not conveniently attend, were requested to send 

 written answers. One hundred and fifty letters were received, and 

 the most important facts and information exlractefl, and together with 

 disclosures of those who attended, inserted in a report of the conven- 

 tion, published by Messrs. Saxlon and Miles of this city. This 

 forms a pamphlet of inestimable value to our country, and to all who 

 take an interest in this branch of national industry ; it is calculated 

 to be eminently useful, as it gives unsuccessful as well as successful 



