04^ [Assembly 



Upon due consideration, we commend Mr. Watson's work as- 

 sustaining the desires of the State Agricultural Society, and thus 

 producing for the State and Nation, the continuation of a series 

 of works better adapted to develop our resources than has here- 

 tofore been attempted. 



While thus presenting the views of your committee upon the 

 manuscript survey of Essex county, we would remark that the 

 ehief aim of the Stater Society in pronioting the surveys of the 

 counties of the State, was to develop their agricultural capabili- 

 ties, systems, modes of practice, and the means for improvement. 

 This object was of sufficient magnitude to enlist science in the 

 enterprise, and to awaken a fond taste fur enjoj'ments springing, 

 very naturally from labor applied to the soil, when guided by 

 science. At the very threshold, we find a gentleman of high 

 scientific attainments offering his aid to the society, whose efforts 

 shed a happy influence on the enterprise, at once proving its value, 

 and causing a generous rivalry among the counties of the State for 

 precedence in the order of survey. It may be a matter of con- 

 gratulation to farmers, that from their own class, men stepped 

 forward to conduct the surveys of the three next counties select- 

 ed by the Society — a bold undertaking for men devoted to the 

 plow. Yet they are before us, in all their plainne5S and simplicity, 

 monuments at least of an agricultural zeal, and a compilation of 

 facts and observations forming a solid basis fur a superstructure 

 of practical improvement. It was suon manifest that no survey 

 c:ould be made with utility or truth, unless based upon the broad 

 geological features of the region under examination : a positive 

 knowledge of the soils under cultis'ation ; in order to exhibit ta 

 the farmer the material elements of his profession, and enable 

 all, just entering upon the virgin soils of the country, to judge 

 more accurately of their powers and value. 



A positive knowlege of the mineral wealth embosomed in the 

 v^st unexamined surfaces of many counties, is important not to 

 the possessor only, but to the revenues of the State. In this re- 

 spect the examination of Essex county by Mr. Watson is pre-emi- 

 nently successful. 



» 



Thus the county surveys, intended for agricultural advance- 

 ment, liave incidentally and naturally led the way to investiga- 



