I: TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



guard a<rainst toniptations which are prcstntcil to them on every tiide. 

 It is ti) !>(' reirivtted that hut few attractions of the character alhulcd 

 to, couinicnsuiato with th. .rn ;itncj.-; of this metropolis, have thus far 

 been iiuiijiurati- ';. 



In the principal cilicci ol Uiuor countries it is ticcnicd important to 

 cncoijra*xe all enterprises the tendencies of which arc to instruct and 

 amuse the masses of the people ; hence larire appropriations aro 

 made for the support of museums, galleries of statuaries and paint- 

 ings, polytechnic schools, and other useful institutions which contril>- 

 utc largely to make usi-ful and intelligent citizens, Avhile they attract 

 the stranger and traveller in pursuit of useful and valuahlc informa- 

 tion. 



Philadelphia, Boston, Baltiir.ore, and other sister cities are not 

 without suh$tautial evidence of patnmagc to advance and encourage 

 til - which prompts the Anierietm Institute to enlarge its 



*;pi. :i and usefulnos. 



The Board of Trustees takes great pleasure in stating that the 

 weekl\' meetings of the Farmers' Club and the Polytechnic Associa- 

 tion have been v.ell attended duriuir the rear, and the increasin": 

 interest manifested ^u the subjects discussed leads us to anticipate 

 that the material furnished from these sources to the next volume of 

 Transactions will exceed, in interest and impoilancc. any that have 

 preceded it. 



Through the instrumentality of some of the active members of the 

 Institute, a Ilorticultural Association has been ad«lc<l as a new depart- 

 ment. The proceedings of this Association will forrn ;i vi rv inter- 

 esting portion of the volume of Transactions. 



A c(»urse of lectures has already been inaugtirated !i\ ih;^ Asso<i- 

 ation. which has attracted large and appreciative audiences. 



The Board of Managers finding insurmountable obstacles to the 

 holding of the usual Annual Fair, the Institute made an appropriation 

 of five hundred dollars, to be expended imder the direction of the 

 Board of Managers, for the purpose of enabling the Horticultural 

 branch of the Institute to give, during the autnnin. an Exhibition of 

 fruit and flowers. 



The Exhibition was held during the latter part of the month of 

 September, under the auspices of the Horticultural Committee of the; 

 Institute, and enjbraced a very superior collection of fruit and 

 flowers. One hundred aiid fifty varieties of fruit from France were 

 also on exhibition, and. from the attention devoted to them by prom- 

 inent .\ fruit growers, we may reasonably infer that many f)f 

 these V . v. ill soon be foimd as a product of (jur own soil. 



The Library has received during the year many valuable additions, 



