326 
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SI-IOW OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 
years, and living free from all moral and civil re¬ 
straints, to emigrate to the Ultima Thule or last 
jumping off place of the El Dorado of the final 
borders of the great illimitable west! 
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SHOW OF THE 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 
The show and fair for this year was held as 
usual at Niblo’s in Broadway. It opened on the 
7th of October, and continued till the 26th. Rather 
an increased number of visiters attended it, and 
the exhibition in domestic fabrics, glass-ware, and 
cutlery, as well as most every kind of manufactures, 
cabinet furniture, &c., &c., showed a decided im¬ 
provement. Indeed, such was the variety of arti¬ 
cles present, and so substantially were they made, 
and so highly finished, that they leave little to de¬ 
sire in many things, and show how well now all 
our reasonable comforts and luxuries can be sup¬ 
plied at home. 
Horticultural Department.— This was changed 
the present year from the second story of the north 
wing, to the long gallery on a level with the garden. 
There being much more room here, it gave a 
better opportunity for the display. The saloon was 
beautifully fitted up, and decorated with ever¬ 
greens, garlands, and wreaths : the flowers, fruits, 
vegetables, and grain, were handsomely arranged, 
in great abundance, on each side its whole length 
of upward of 100 feet. There were so many ex¬ 
hibitors, and these things have been so often re¬ 
peated in our columns, that we fear we shall 
trespass upon our readers’ patience if we attempt to 
particularize. We can not refrain, however, from 
mentioning some magnificent grapes from the con¬ 
servatory of Mr. Cushing, of Massachusetts; also 
some superb pound pears from his garden. Mr. 
Bates, of the same state, exhibited very superior 
cranberries grown on a dry soil. To these we 
add, from other exhibitors, pine apple potatoes ; a 
gloria-mundi apple, weighing 27f ounces ; fruit of 
the Osage orange; eight Valparaiso squashes, 
weighing 581 lbs., all the product of one seed; 
Otaheita pumpkins; green globe artichokes, a 
southern vegetable; and Mr. Harmon’s splendid 
varieties of wheat in the head. 
Agricultural Implements. —Among the few 
new things in this department, we noticed a corn- 
sheiler the price of which is $50; its inventor 
stating that with a one-horse power for driving, it 
will shell 300 bushels per hour. An almost in¬ 
credible quantity; but we presume he meant corn 
in the ear. There were two straw-cutters with 
different shaped knives than any we have seen 
before, also an alteration in the endless chain 
principle of the horse power. We should not like 
to say that these were any great improvement till 
we had effectually tested their operation. 
Silk Convention. —This was opened on the 9th 
at the repository of the American Institute, in the 
Park, and continued nearly three days. Many in¬ 
teresting questions were discussed, and a mass of 
facts collected to be embodied in a second report. 
Within two years there has been a vast increase 
in the manufacture of silk in this country, an in¬ 
crease amounting it is supposed, to three or four 
fold. In the growing of silk there has been also 
a large advance, an advance more difficult to es¬ 
timate, as the returns are incomplete. We know 
enough, however, to be assured that the business 
has essentially surmounted the struggles of its in¬ 
fancy, and its miserable nursing, and is now on 
its feet, and commanding the respect, and confi¬ 
dence of intelligent men throughout the country. 
The question of open feeding , so fully estab¬ 
lished by the results published in the last report, 
is yet more confirmed by those of the present 
season. The Northampton Association in Massa¬ 
chusetts has made in this way 150 lbs. reeled silk, 
with the most entire success. John M. Summy, 
of Manheim, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, has 
made the same quantity in the same way. Others, 
in great numbers, have tested the question, and 
are perfectly satisfied that worms must have the 
pure air of heaven, and the more the better, ex¬ 
cept in very early, or very late feeding, and yet 
Miss Rapp, and some others, have had abundant 
success in feeding on the artificial plan. 
The silk goods this year at the fair, exceed in 
quantity and quality anything before exhibited, 
and the same may be said of that at the Me¬ 
chanics’ fair in Boston, last month ; thus showing 
that this interesting branch of home industry is 
making steady and sure advances. 
Another fact. Almost all who are now en¬ 
gaged in growing silk, are preparing to enlarge 
their operations; and many new mulberry or¬ 
chards will be planted the following spring. 
The report of all these doings will be speedily 
put to press, and will doubtless prove a document 
exceeding in interest that of last year. It will be 
about the same size. It is expected that funds 
will be furnished gratuitously for stereotyping it, 
so that it may be sold in large quantities at the 
cost of paper, ink, and presswork. It is intended 
that fifty thousand copies shall be scattered over 
the land. Orders are solicited. Returns from 
silk -growers, if forwarded at once, to Isaac R. 
Barbour, Esq., of Oxford, Massachusetts, will not 
be too late to be inserted. 
The silk cause is indebted to Mr. Van Schaick, 
of this city, for a recent donation of $1,000, to be 
expended by the American Institute, in promoting 
this business. 
Farmers' Convention.— This was held at the 
same place as above, on the 11th and 12th. It 
was well attended, and the subject of agriculture 
generally discussed.. Quite a number of letters 
from distinguished farmers, who could not attend, 
were received and read. Resolutions were passed, 
calling upon the United States government to 
establish a Home Department at Washington, 
with an officer to superintend it having a seat in 
the cabinet like the other secretaries. The con¬ 
vention then adjourned, to meet next year, after a 
gratifying and interesting session. 
Cattle Show .—This again took place at the 
Vauxhall Garden, opening on the 16th, and con¬ 
tinuing through the 17th. The exhibition of 
horses was quite superior to that of last year; 
likewise in working-oxen ; but of Durhams, espe¬ 
cially in bulls, far inferior. Mr. Griswold showed 
a very superior Ayrshire cow, both for fineness 
