32 [Assembly 



stunted appearance, and it was thought that some woiild prove an en- 

 tire failure. Here and there a few ghostly-seeming flowers might be 

 seen struggling for a short-lived existence, but, as a general thing, no 

 sooner did one of these charming little favorites of Nature venture to 

 expand its petals and give its sweetness to the air, than the overpower- 

 ing heat and scorching sun reduced it at once to a brown, unsightly 

 mass, very painful to behold by one having the least taste for these 

 beautiful gems. These facts should be taken into consideration in 

 forming a true estimate of the character of the exhibition which has 

 just closed. 



Let us begin with the vegetables. On no former occasion has there 

 been exhibited a greater variety than on the present. Every thing 

 which is usually to be found in our markets at this season of the year 

 was to be seen here, and some things which are not usually found in 

 our markets. As respects quality, very emphatic language may be 

 used. Notwithstanding the unfavorable season, the greater part of 

 the vegetables were of superior excellence, showing some very con- 

 siderable improvement, in size and quality, on preceding exhibitions; 

 and it may be added, that in these respects nothing finer has ever been 

 seen in New^-York. It is not necessary, perhaps, to go into farther 

 detail here, as some tolerable idea of the qualities of the various 

 kinds of vegetables can be gathered from the list appended to this 

 report. 



Of agricultural productions the display was very satisfactory. Ag- 

 riculture is second in importance to no subject which can occupy the 

 attention of mankind. In all ages of the world man's chief reliance 

 for subsistence has been on the produce of the soil. Hence the im- 

 portance of making agriculture a subject of profound study, and as- 

 certaining with precision the nature and operation of those natural 

 and chemical laws which may be applied to its development and 

 improvement. Aside from the introduction of drill husbandry and 

 improved implements, agriculture remains practically pretty much 

 where it was some two thousand years ago. 



Notwithstanding we have many good farmers among us, the subject 

 is not thoroughly understood, and never will be till it is made a part 

 of our common school education. In the time of Virgil, it was made 

 a subject of complaint that agriculture was the only art which was 

 not made a branch of education, and it has remained a standing re- 



