REPORT OF DELEGATE TO BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 313 



fying under oath the sum actually subscribed and put out to inter- 

 est. Also to transmit to the Secretary's office in the month of 

 January annually an official statement of their proceedings in rela- 

 tion to the expenditure of the money received from the State. 



The above act with certain amendments required as the number 

 of societies increased, and by the transfer of the work from the 

 office of the Secretary of State to the office of the Secretary of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, is substantially the law at the present 

 time as it relates to the connection of the State with the Agricul- 

 tural Societies. 



On April 12, 1837, the Legislature passed the following Re- 

 solve : 



Resolved, That His Excellency the Governor, by and with 

 the advice of the Council is hereby authorized and requested to 

 appoint some suitable and competent person whose dut}' it shall 

 be under the direction of His Excellency the Governor, to make 

 an Agricultural Survey of the Commonwealth, collect accurate in- 

 formation of the state and condition of its Agriculture and every 

 subject connected with it, point out the means of improvement, 

 and make a detailed report thereof with as much exactness as cir- 

 cumstances will admit. 



Resolved, That a suuunary of such survey and examination shall 

 be furnished to His Excellency the Governor every six months 

 until the whole shall be completed; and at such other times, as 

 shall be required, to be published in such way and manner as he 

 with the advice of the Council shall deem to be expedient and use- 

 ful ; and he is authorized to draw his warrants from time to time, 

 upon the treasury for such sums, as may be necessary to defray 

 the expenses of said survey, and to enable the person, so appointed, 

 to proceed in the execution of the duties, that shall be required of 

 him ; and to pay the same to him, not exceeding the sum of two 

 thousand five hundred dollars per annum. 



Rev. Henry Colman was appointed Commissioner on the 27th of 

 the ensuing May. He published four reports, which were widely 

 circulated in this country and attracted favorable attention abroad. 

 The resolve was repealed and the office discontinued, by chapter 

 1-4 of the Resolves of 1841. In one of his reports Commissioner 

 Colman made the first published suggestion of a State Board of 

 Agriculture. 



