100 [Assembly 



not been less than two or three hundred dollars, including in this sum 

 the value of the articles exhibited, and which are an entire loss. The 

 most that is carried away for all this is a cup worth $]0 ; whereas in 

 other departments the successful competitor carries off not only his cup 

 or his gold medal, but his articles are as good as when they entered 

 the fair. He has been a gainer in every sense of the word, and a 

 loser in none. How very different with the exhibiter of flowers! 



I would not make this a matter of dollars and cents ; and I am happy 

 to know that exhibiters themselves entertain no sordid motives on this 

 subject, but they very justly expect a fair standard of awards j some- 

 thing more nearly approaching an equivalent for the efforts made and 

 the sacrifices endured. People may talk of glory and notoriety ag 

 .they please ; something besides these is necessary in the case under 

 consideration ; and even of these airy things a man will not be satisfied 

 with less than his full share. 



I must here state in all candor, that when the just claims of exhibi- 

 ters have been laid before the Institute, they have been promptly and 

 honorably met : I know of but one solitary exception of delay, and 

 that was not altogether without cause. But this is not the point : we 

 must meet the case hereafter in preparing our premium list. We must 

 make a forward movement, not only to keep pace with the progress 

 of taste and improvement, but also to give a higher tone and character 

 to our future exhibitions ; and somewhat, too, on the score of self- 

 preservation. For this object, there is no time so propitious as th? 

 present. 



I have been induced to indulge in these remarks in order to show 

 that, so far from receiving undue encouragement, the agricultural de- 

 partment, alike from its importance and its intimate connection with 

 the best interests of society, is eminently worthy and justly entitled to 

 the very first consideration. Its expenses are only seemingly great ; 

 for by its striking and pre-eminent attractions it has produced a much 

 larger income than all other departments together. 



There are other topics of interest which I had intended to touch 

 upon, but this report has reached such a length that I must pass them 

 by. In conclusion,! must .add my sincere wish that the future course 

 of the Institute may be onward, ever onward, like some mighty river, 



