J58 [SKWAtB 



to view all the advantages of our favorable position for the advance- 

 ment of this important interest. 



Many of the richest specimens of horticulture exhibited at the Fair, 

 were brought from Boston, and its vicinity — a portion of our country 

 decidedly in advance of all others, in this particular- 

 Some expenditure may be well bestowed in obtaining a larger show 

 of the best trained working cattle, many of which aie in the hands 

 of farmers, whose moderate circumstances cannot well aftbrd the ex- 

 penses attendant on their exhibition. 



An elaborate and very full report of the agricultural department 

 of the Fair, made by the gentleman under whose charge it was con- 

 ducted, accompanies this report. 



A provision recently introduced into the by-laws of the Institute, 

 authorizing the admission of suitable persons, who may apply during 

 the time of holding the Fair, to the privileges of membership, has 

 been attended with all the benefits anticipated from its adoption. 

 Ninety-seven applications have been received under its sanction, 

 from gentlemen of the first standing and character, some from among 

 our own immediate citizens, but most of them from distant sections 

 of the country, whose feelings are enlisted and enthusiasm excited 

 by the attractive scenes of the Fair, and whose earnest wishes for its 

 prosperity will not fail to spread the influence of the American Insti- 

 tute, wherever their own influence extends. 



Upon the whole the board of managers may congratulate them- 

 selves and the Institute on the successful result of their labors at the 

 late Fair. They had indulged the hope, in view of the vast crowds 

 with which our halls were filled the whole of the seventeen days of 

 its continuance, of realizing a much larger amount of receipts for 

 admission, as well to warrant a more liberal distribution of rewards, 

 as to increase the available means of the Institute for the promo- 

 tion of the great objects for which it was incorporated. They have 

 endeavored to profit by the experience of those who have preceded 

 them, and to guard against the abuse of the privilege of free admis- 

 sions, without too narrowly contracting the facilities heretofore given 

 to exhibitors, or too strictly limiting the number of invitations. 

 Whilst our receipts for admissions indicate a number less than 48,000 

 of paying visitors, those who have the very best opportunity for 

 forming an accurate estimate, assure us that not more than one of 

 every five who enter pays for admission. It is computed that there 

 were during the fair about 240,000 admissions at the door. If any 

 thing like a just proportion could be preserved between the paying 

 and the free admissions, the result would be of much greater benefit 

 to the Institute, and afford stronger inducements for the labors of the 

 managers and the large expenditure necessarily required for success- 

 fully conducting our fairs. 



The managers have also to regret that their expenditure, although 

 less in proportion to the receipts than heretofore, are yet larger than 

 may be deenied absolutely requisite for economically and yet success- 

 fully conducting such an exhibition. They have endeavored so to 

 divide the duties and responsiblities of its management as to avoid 



