SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The undersigned trustees, in conformity with the law of May 

 5, 1841, present a report of the acts of the Institute for the year 

 1857: 



The progress of improvement in all the various branches of 

 National industry was fully illustrated in the exhibition held at 

 the Crystal Palace during the months of September and October last. 



The rare productions of the soil and genius of our artisans, 

 manufacturers and inventors, were gathered from nearly every 

 State of the Union, and the exhibition surpassed in extent and 

 variety of articles any previous Fair held by the Institute, and 

 greater number of novel inventions than were ever collected in 

 this country. 



The great staples of agriculture, manufactures and the arts, 

 were abundant and of superior quality, and were a conclusive 

 demonstration of the vast benefit these yearly gatherings are to 

 the community. 



The samples of cereals and other productions of the soil, espe- 

 cially in the choice fruits and flowers, were the admiration of 

 thousands of visitors, and the collection of vegetables were large 

 and of unusually good quality. 



Mechanical instruments, for agricultural and horticultural pur- 

 poses, were of great variety and novelty, carrying conviction to 

 every beholder that the toil of our ancestors in acquiring the 

 necessary food and comforts of life has been much reduced by 

 labor saving machinery, the product of the inventive genius of 

 our own country. 



It was determined to change the location for the cattle show, 

 which has been held usually three or four miles from the city. 

 These exhibitions of stock have become so general throughout 



