63 



survey would give to the agricultural interest in this State a 

 new impulse, and inspire it with new life ; especially if those en- 

 trusted with the execution of the enterprise, were instructed to 

 keep this object steadily in view. There are in every town in 

 this State intelligent men, whose knowledge of these sciences and 

 their relations is indeed limited, but who are capable of appre- 

 ciating their importance, and would acquire, in the progress of 

 the work contemplated, a vast amount of practical information, 

 which would gradually be diffused through every town and neigh- 

 borhood in the State. Among other beneficial results of this in- 

 formation, one would doubtless be the prevention of those errors 

 so often practised, of committing plants to inappropriate and un- 

 congenial soils errors which are as certain to insure a failure, as 

 would be the planting of the hyacinth upon the brow of the 

 volcano. 



Admitting then the utility of the measure proposed, the next 

 question which would properly present itself for consideration 

 would be its expense. From the estimate made by Prof. Bene- 

 dict, apparently with much care, it might safely be set down as 

 not exceeding twelve thousand dollars, including the expense of 

 publishing the necessary report. This would amount to less than 

 five cents for each individual in the State, and the payment of this 

 sum might, as suggested by Prof. Benedict, be extended into two, 

 three, or more years, according as it should be deemed expedient 

 to prosecute the work with greater or less rapidity. And in 

 view of the immense benefit to be derived, your Committee has 

 no hesitancy in expressing the opinion that the work should be 

 immediately undertaken. 



But inasmuch as the subject has been never fully before the 

 people of the State, and the measure proposed involves considera- 

 ble expense, they forbear recommending any appropriation for this 

 object the present session choosing to leave the decision of the 

 question to the intelligence of the people confident in the belief 

 that they will appreciate the importance of the subject, and that 

 the popular voice will demand the commencement of the enterprize 

 another year. 



