No, 244.] 31 



event in every instance has falsified their predictions, and the present 

 one most remarkably so. It may be asserted without fear of con- 

 tradiction, that never has there been an exhibition in New-York wdiich 

 would compare with the one which has just closed ; and as some evi- 

 dence of this, it may be stated that its contributors numbered upward 

 of two thousand three hundred and fifty ^ some of whom had more 

 than a hundred specimens on exhibition, each a distinct variety. 

 That the public know how to appreciate these things is apparent from 

 the immense concourse of people who thronged Castle Garden during 

 the three weeks of the Fair. 



Another class of disparagers profess their inability to comprehend 

 why the American Institute should charge the sum of twenty-five cents 

 for the " privilege of admiring the last newly-invented shoe-tie, or 

 looking upon an almighty big squash," and say that the great differ- 

 ence between fairs in Europe, both ancient and modern, and those of 

 the American Institute, is, that the former never thought of taking 

 money for admission, and that the latter is the first that ever did so. 

 This is purely gratuitous; but these persons seem to know about as 

 little in regard to the one as to the other, and altogether overlook the 

 important fact, that the former were got up for the purpose of traffic^ 

 and frequented by merchants and others for the sale of their wares. 

 It w'ould, however, be an easy matter to show that not only exhibit- 

 ers, but also buyers and spectators, had to pay for their privileges, 

 and sometimes pretty dearly too; but, in fact, the objects of the two 

 bear no resemblance to each other, and there is little use in noticing 

 arguments conceived in a spirit so deeply tinged with prejudice. 



The undersigned will attempt to set this matter right, so far as con- 

 cerns the Horticultural department, by instituting a brief comparison 

 between this and preceding fairs, premising, however, that fears were 

 entertained, owing to the unpropitious season, that there would be 

 some falling off on the present occasion; especially was it apprehend- 

 ed there would not be a supply of flowers sufficient to render the 

 Horticultural department as attractive as at some former exhibitions, 

 with how much justice wull presently be seen. It is well known 

 that the unusual and long continued drought of the past season was 

 very injurious to vegetation of every description, and that the inmates 

 of the flower garden suffered alike with the products of the vegetable 

 garden and the field. Every w^here crops presented a burned and 



