No. 199.] 89 ■ 



and arrangement of the articles, and the effect produced by such ar- 

 rangement, it becomes me not to speak ; and, indeed, it is not neces- 

 sary for me to do so, for the Board of Managers, the members of the 

 Institute, and the public generally, had abundant opportunities to judge 

 , for themselves. 



In enumerating the different articles, for the sake of brevity I shall 

 only particularly notice those which presented some peculiar excel- 

 lence. Of agricultural productions, the first of all in importance is 

 our great staple product, Indian Corn^ the display of which was very 

 large. I have reason to believe that finer corn has never any where 

 been seen. The Chairman of the Committee of Judges, venerab e 

 alike for his years, his knowledge of the subject, and an experience as 

 wide as the extent of our own broad land, pronounced some speci 

 mens equal to the best he had ever seen ; in fact, all who saw them 

 gave them at once the highest character, and were most eager to pro 

 cure seed of them. Though only a few specimens possessed this high 

 degree of excellence, yet there were many other samples of very fine 

 quality. When we take into consideration the vas1 importance and 

 usefulness of this staple product, the improvement recently effected 

 in it and the lively interest it has awakened in the farmer's mmd 

 should be studiously and perseveringly encouraged and rewarded. 

 We must still continue to give it the first consideration. The tallest 

 specimen on exhibition was nearly thirty feet in height! the next, some 

 twenty four feet, and several others from thirteen to fifteen feet. 

 There were also a few samples of Egyptian Corn on exhibition j but 

 whether this is of sufficient importjince to be much encouraged I con- 

 sider doubtful. 



Of Wheat there was a large number of samples, several of them be- 

 ing of great excellence. The judges were furnished with a chron- 

 drometer, and went through the interesting process of weighing the 

 various samples ; and as some evidence of their quality, I will just 

 mention that the weight varied from sixty to sixty-five pounds to the 

 bushel. Of the different varieties the Bergen was considered the best, 

 and this character, I believe, it has held since the time of its introduc- 

 tion. 



