Ma. moseley's ABDRESS- 11 



complain. There are doubtless grave objeeiions to endowing an 

 institution for special purposes, which has no higher claim than 

 perhaps many others. We ought rather to speak in terms of 

 gratitude of the Legislature for their liberality, nay munificence, 

 in extending so much encouragement to the agricultural societies 

 throughout the commonwealth. It is now more than fifteen 

 years since they have extended a liberal and fostering hand to 

 these societies, and at the last session the act was continued for 

 five years longer, with scarcely a dissenting voice. The geologi- 

 cal survey of the commonwealth is another instance of liberal 

 legislation for the advancement of science, which should com- 

 mand our highest praise. 



The act of 1819, giving a bounty to agricultural societies, 

 contains a provision which shows the watchful care of the legis- 

 lature over the interests of the commonwealth. It is made the 

 duty of the several societies to offer annually such premiums 

 and encouragement for the raising and preserving oaks, and other 

 forest trees, in such manner and upon such terms, as to their 

 discretion shall seem best adapted to increase and perpetuate an 

 adequate supply of ship timber within this commonwealth. — • 

 This society, in compliance with the requisition of the statute, 

 has annually offered liberal premiums for plantations of the oak 

 and other forest trees, but such has been the surprising neglect or 

 inattention to the subject, that I believe in no instance, has a 

 claim been made for either of the premiums offered. It is true, 

 indeed, that the Rev. Mr. Perry of Bradford, presented for the 

 notice of the society a large number of young maple trees, trans- 

 planted from the forest, but these were not among the descrip- 

 tion of trees, for which a premium was offered by the society. 



Viewing this as an interesting subject for our consideration, and 

 growing of more and more importance every year, I shall ven- 

 ture to submit to you some remarks upon our forests, and fruit 

 trees, although at the hazard of being very uninteresting. Our 

 wood lots are highly valuable for fuel, fences, and ships. The 

 price of wood for fuel is already one of the heaviest articles of 

 expense in every family. Our commonwealth, stretching along 

 the sea shore, indented with bays, creeks and navigable rivers, 



