AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF 

 THE CITY OF NEW-YORK— 1844. 



By an amendment of the law of this State " to promote agricul- 

 ture," which amendment was passed May 7th, J 844, the annual re- 

 ports of this Institute, which have heretofore been submitted to the 

 Legislature, are now required to be made to the New-York State 

 Agricultur&l Society. In compliance with this requirement, the 

 trustees, on behalf of the Institute, respectfully submit the follwing 

 remarks, with documents and papers annexed. The charter of 

 this Institute was granted in 1829. Repeated attempts had been 

 made, before that time, to establish an agricultural society in 

 the city and county of New-York, and a temporary zeal had occa- 

 sionally been created in its favor ; but uniformly after a short time it 

 had subsided. That continuation of attention and effort necessary to 

 sustain such an institution in a flourishing condition, could not be 

 kept up. In the charter of the American Institute, designed to en- 

 courage agriculture and the arts, not only in this State, but over the 

 whole Union, with a permanent location, the friends of agriculture dis- 

 covered the means of perpetuity and prosperity. In and about the city 

 they at once rallied around this institution, particularly those who 

 had been the most actively engaged in the societies that had been at- 

 tempted to be established previous to that time. The connection of 

 agriculture and the arts, as united in this institution, were found mu- 

 tually auxiliary in promoting both. The farmer and gardener realiz- 

 ed an interest and a popularity in their occupations never before ex- 

 hibited ; and when the New-York State Agricultural Society was pro- 

 posed, the farmers and gardeners of this and the adjoining counties, 

 and even States, united, with unparalleled unanimity, in petitions that 

 the American Institute should represent that interest for the city and 

 county of New- York. The plan was approved by the wisdom of the 

 Legislature. Under efficient boards of agriculture, with the aid of 

 committees for different objects, assisted by the managers of the Fair, 

 and the agents and clerks of the association, the institution has pro- 

 gressed in prosperity, and an increasing zeal has been promoted in 

 favor of agriculture and horticulture, far beyond any former example 

 in this section of the country. At a single semi-monthly Farmers' 

 Club there have appeared one hundred attendants. Some from our 

 most western and northern counties, others from remote, as well as 

 neighboring States ; every one attentive listeners, and alive to the ob- 

 jects of the meeting. 



