Report of the Board of Managers. 19 



REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



The Board of Managers, of the Thirty-seventh Annual Exhibi- 

 tion of the American Institute respectfully submit the following: 



The board was duly organized on the 25th day of February, 

 1867, by the election of William H. Butler as. chairman, Thomas 

 McElrath as vice-chairman, and John AV. Chambers as secretary. 



Early in June, the managers announced that an exhibition of 

 stawberries and hot-house grapes would be held at the rooms of 

 the Institute. A number of special premiums were offered by 

 several of the trustees and managers, which had the effect of bring- 

 ing together a large number of competitors. The exhibition opened 

 on the 25th of June, and continued for two days. It is believed that 

 in respect to size, quality, and number of varieties, this show of 

 strawberries has never been surpassed in this countiy. 



A full account of berries and plants exhibited, and the awards 

 made, will be found in a preceding report. 



In accordance with the opinion very generally expressed in favor 

 of holding an autumnal exhil)ition, the board early took the initia- 

 tory steps in relation to procuring a suitable building for that 

 purpose. After it had been decided that an exhibition building 

 could not be erected by the Institute and completed in time for 

 occupation in the fall, the board directed its attenton to securing 

 suitable premises for a short term. A careful survey of various 

 localities, by a committee appointed for that purpose, resulted in 

 a report that no more commodious buildings could be found than 

 the armory of the Twentj^-second regiment N. G., S. N. Y., on 

 Fourteenth street, when enlarged by certain permanent and tempo- 

 rary structures. Accordingly, on the 26th day of June, 1867, an 

 agreement was made with that regiment whereby, in consideration 

 of the use of the armory during a portion of the months of Sep- 

 tember and October, the board bound itself to lay a new and supe- 

 rior floor over the whole of the great hall, to construct on the north 

 and south sides large galleries, and make other improvements spe- 

 cified, the whole of which were estimated to cost about six thou- 

 sand dollars. 



In addition to this work, which was done bv Messrs. Hunt & Son, 



