42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



composition of soils, can only be developed by geological research, 

 and that a geological and agricultural survey ■would be one of the 

 best investments ever made. 



The importance of such a survey will suggest itself on a moment'3 

 consideration, its object being to ascertain the mineral wealth of the 

 country, the fertility and capabilities of its soil, and consequently 

 its value as a public or private possession, and it is only by invoking 

 the "hand of science" that such information can be obtained. It 

 is a well settled principle in theory, and better established in prac- 

 tice, that agriculture, which draws largely on the science of geology 

 — lies at the foundation of all national wealth and strength, and any 

 state or people that will encourage this necessary and advantageous 

 pursuit, is on the highway to prosperity. In view of these facts and 

 believing that the interests of agriculture in common with all the 

 industrial interests of the state, demand a thorough geological ex- 

 ploration and agricultural survey, we would recommend a comple- 

 tion of the same, 



S, Wasson, ) 



S. Dill, \ Cominiltee. 



A. CUSHMAX, \ 



The committee on the fifth Topic, asked leave to report after the 

 close of the session to the secretary, which was granted. 



Mr. Ilammatt, for committee on sixth Topic, submitted the fol- 

 lowing report : 



It would seem by the wording of the question propounded, that 

 to the turnip crop is awarded in the mind of the questioner thu great 

 benefits which have been derived by the agricultural interest in 

 England from their system of rotation of crops. 



The systems of rotation of crops in England being such as ;o 

 yield largely of grain and very little hay, compared with the prac- 

 tice in New England, necessarily involve the adoption, for general 

 cultivation, of some crop which shall answer the purpose of winter 

 food for stock ; and as the farmers and stock growers feed hay to 

 their animals to a very limited extent, they have adopted the turnip 

 as the cheapest and best substitute for it, and, it is presumed that 

 under the circumstances, considering that they make up, with a 

 very small amount of hay or straw, the whole diet of these animals, 

 — it is the best variety of the root crop they can use. Eut in this 



