REPORT 



OF THE COMMITTEE ON llOIJPIcri/rriiE OF THE AMERICAN 



INSTllL'TE. 



The C'OnimilU'o on Ilortirulliiic, lir.st of all, lake jxreiit plcasmv in 

 announcing:: the lorniatioM of a new branch of the Inslilnlc. untlcr the 

 name of the Ilorliculluial Association of the American Institute. It 

 may not he out of place to state here l)rielly that the «rcntlcnien who 

 chielly interested themselves in its formation, Avcre of opinion that 

 Horticulture did not occupy in the Institute that prominent position 

 to which its importance justly' entitled it. Embracing, as it does, so 

 many objects which contribute largely to the necessities and comfort 

 of man, and scarcely less to his enjoyment and pleasures, it was 

 thou<2:ht that somethiufc more than an animal e\hil)iti()n was needed 

 to bring and keep it })ronn'nently l)efore the public and make tlieni 

 familiar with its practical and avstlietic truths. It is onlv b\- makinn; 

 peo[)lc familial' willi our bcaiiliiul art that \ve can hope to make them 

 love and patronize it. It was determined, therefore, to organize this 

 association, and hold fre(pieut meetings for conversational purposes, 

 to read essays, listen to lectures, and in all possilde ways to promote 

 and dilVuse a love of horticulture. 



An informal meeting was held on the lUth day of March, 18l!l, 

 the subj.'ct I'nlly discussed, and a connnittee appointed to nominate 

 officers and committees and draw up by-laws. The next meeting 

 Avas held on the (itli day of April, when ollicers and committees were 

 elected, the bydaws adopted, and the association formally organized. 

 The proceedings IVoin this time fcuward, as kept by the secretary, 

 are ]ircsented as a part of this rc[)ort. They contain a full history 

 of the association up to the pr(>seut time. The committee may add 

 that the experiment has thus far Itceii ciitiridy successful and gratify- 

 ing to a degree that was hardly antieip.ateil. The meetings of the 

 a.ssociation have been wcdl. and in many instances large ly altend(.'d. 

 Flowcr> lia\c bciii cxliilntcd; the conversations have iiccii interest- 

 ing and instructive, and a record of them, as far as i)reserve(l, is 

 lierewilh pre.senletl. Tliey will eon^lilule .-i valuable ;iddilion to our 

 amiual volume of Traiisnetions, 



l''iir reasons not nece>s:iry to meiilion lure, it was deeme(l inexj)e- 

 dieiit to hold an annual fair; but il was, neverl heless, ctuisidered 

 very <lesirablc to hold a h(uticullural exhibit inn. It is mortifying to 

 be compelh'd to state that the city of \ew Y(uk does not i)0sse«s a 



