HORTICULTURAL REPORT 



OF THE 



Tweaty- Fourth Anafial Fair of the Ameii«aa [astitute. 



The year 1851 will always be remembered for the number and 

 magnitude of its fairs. Aside from the stupendous exhibition in 

 London, in which American industry and skill l)ore a distin- 

 guished part, and carried ofl" a large share of honors in compe- 

 tition with the world, there was a larger number of fairs in our 

 own country than has ever been known in any former period of 

 our history. This circumstance is peculiarly gratifying, as show- 

 ing that the subject is beginning to take a strong hold of the 

 public mind, and will receive that attention which its importance 

 demands. Several of these fairs I visited, and notwithstanding 

 the unpropitious season, was much gratified with what I saw, as 

 well as with the spirit manifested at these interesting gatherings, 

 Having had abundant opportunities of judging, not only the pre- 

 sent season, but for many years past, I am prepared to claim for 

 the Twenty-fourth Annual Fair of the American Institute a 

 high place in the first rank of industrial exhibitions. 



Eefore proceeding with the proper subject of this report, I 

 would allude to a statement going the rounds of the papers, that 

 we are to have a World's Exhibition in New- York, in 1852. I 

 have learned from other sources, that an appplication will be 

 made for Madison Square, where it is proposed to erect a 

 glass structure some six hundred feet in length ! What a World's 

 Fair that will be ! Why, New- York alone would have no chance 

 at all of being fairly represented in it. My experience gives me 

 a right to speak, and I wish to state, briefly, my decided convic- 

 tion that the movement is premature, ill digested, and ill con- 



