No. 199.] 99 



are common to the whole fair j neither have they been more preva- 

 lent this year than on former occasions; but I have done with their de- 

 testable authors for the present. If these remarks should meet their 

 eyes, I hope they may have the effect of mantling their cheeks with 

 the blush of shame for conduct so reprehensible, and induce a resolution 

 of amendment for the future. 



A few words on one other topic before I conclude. The opinion has 

 been expressed by some that the Agricultural Department of the In- 

 stitute receives more than its due share of encouragement. Nothing 

 can be further from the truth ; and I wish to state my conviction that 

 it by no means receives the encouragement it deserves, and which its 

 best interests imperatively demand. I doubt whether its real impor- 

 tance is fully understood by many of our members; certain I am that 

 its true position and character have been assigned to it by compara- 

 tively few. It seems to be generally regarded as a thing of secondary 

 importance, and by some would be placed entirely in the back-ground. 

 But, m brief, the fact is, it has been mainly instrumental in making 

 the Institute what it is : it is its right arm, the key-stone which sup- 

 ports the whole superstructure. Pray, where would be your arts, and 

 sciences, and manufactares, and commerce, without agriculture 1 Echo 

 answers, where ? Agriculture is at the very foundation of these, and 

 of every thing else merely human, for society could not subsist a day 

 without it in its present organization. Yet, in the face of these facts, 

 we hear complaints that the agricultural department receives an undue 

 share of encouragement ! Nothing can be more unfounded either in 

 fact or reason. If its expenses are heavy, so are its receipts large ic 

 proportion. 



I regret very much that such sentiments are entertained by any ; 

 their general prevalence among the members of the Institute is much 

 to be deprecated. I would have each department receive due and 

 proper encouragement ; but it must be recollected that the majority 

 of articles exhibited in the horticultural department, and that alone, 

 are of a peculiarly perishable nature, must be frequently renewed, and 

 are a complete loss to the owner. Take, for example, flowers, which 

 must be renewed every other day for a period of three or four weeks. 

 It is known to me that the expenses of some of the exhibiters have 



