No. 151.] 105 



which are now extensively exported to our father-land, and even re- 

 lished in Cheshire, were, as they deserve to be, warmly extolled. 

 Neither did I forget to remind our fellow citizens of the letter and 

 spirit of republicanism; that the humble tiller who introduces into his 

 kitchen garden, fruits or vegetables of superior excellence, should 

 not suffer the injustice of wealthy proprietors bearing away prizes 

 inconsiderately adjudged for the hulk or quantity of an article, when 

 its quality should have determined the decision. To obviate such an 

 event, my object on the present occasion, while forming the several 

 committees of judges, was, to select men well acquainted with the 

 different subjects upon which they were appointed to pass judgment; 

 men too firm to be biased by adventitious causes, and too honest to 

 be influenced by any pecuniary consideration. 



I remarked' in my report of 1844, that the cultivation and im- 

 provement of the fruits of the earth had been a darling pursuit of the 

 great and the good of every age; that the admiration of plants was 

 common to the whole race of our fellow creatures, their abund- 

 ance and quality being the principal sustenance of the nations of 

 the earth. 



In my report of 1845, 1 furnished a condensed history of the cul- 

 tivation of the earth, commencing in the garden of Eden, as record- 

 ed in the second chapter of the book of Genesis. The gardens of 

 the Jews, the Egyptians, the Persians and the Greeks, were alluded 

 to, and those of Peru, Holland, Flanders, France and Great Britain, 

 "were briefly mentioned. In noticing the latter country, it was stated 

 that the total number of the vegetable species not indigenous to 

 that climate, introduced previous to the accession of George III., 

 "was less than 4000, while in the reign of George IV., it amounted 

 to 11,970. 



A sketch of the rise and progress of the American Metropolis can- 

 Eot but prove interesting to the present generation ; I have, therefore, 

 collected the following facts from histories of the olden time, and 

 from several of our venerable citizens. 



As Castle Garden, the place selected for holding the Nineteenth 

 Annual Fair of the American Institute, has been considered by many 

 a visitor as "quite a journey out of town," I would submit the fol- 

 lowing interesting reminiscences. The Dutch having obtained per- 

 mission of the natives, built a foit on Manhattan Island in 1623. 

 This fort stood on what is called the Battery, not far, as is said, from 



