50 [Assembly 



under ordinary circumstances, if, indeed, under any circumstances at 

 all. The only object in bringing these insignificant trifles is to obtain 

 a ticket of admission, which, on being returned at the close of the 

 Fair, bears strong tokens of having done pretty good seryice. Why 

 should these things be received at all ? Is it designed to make the 

 Fairs of the American Institute a mere toy shop? certainly not; 

 but still, this will be the result if this evil is not speedily checked. 

 The avowed object of the Institute is to encourage the production of 

 articles of real intrinsic excellence, and only such ; and this object 

 should never for a moment be lost sight of. The principle should 

 be, to receive nothing below the standard for which premiums are 

 offered. So far as concerns the Horticultural Department, attempts 

 have been made to check this evil, but they have not been sufficiently 

 encouraged. Persons will bring a few ears of Corn, as many Apples 

 or Pears, a Smyrna Squash of no value whatever, half a dozen over- 

 grown Tomatoes, and other like articles, merely for the purpose of 

 getting a ticket ; and these same triflers are the very ones to make a 

 terrible "Much-Ado-about-Nothing" at the close of the Fair, if their 

 arlmost worthless articles are not forthcoming on the instant, whereas 

 most of them, having become rotten, have been thrown away as nui- 

 sances. The whole tribe should be got rid of as speedily as possible. 

 The dignity and interests of the Institute alike demand that this state 

 of things should proceed no further; and it will be evident to any 

 one who will take the trouble to look into the subject, that the re- 

 formation so loudly called for cannot be long delayed without the 

 danger of impairing the usefulness and hazarding the fair fame of the 

 Institute. 



In conclusion, the undersigned again congratulate the friends of 

 the American Institute on the auspicious close of its twenty-first An- 

 nual Fair, and add their sincere wish, that each succeeding exhibition 

 may be an improvement upon that which has gone before. May the 

 march of the Institute be ever onward in its path of usefulness, till 

 at length, through its protecting care, American genius shall assume 

 a proud place in the front rank of Science and Art. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



THOMAS BRIDGEMAN, 

 PETER B. MEAD, 

 Superintendents of the Uorticul'ural Department. 



J\rew-Yor/c^ Movember 1th, 1848. 



