No. 4.] AGRICULTUEAL EDUCATION. 347 



Commonwealth for the promotion of agriculture, and that the 

 officers and members of the society will unite in a petition to 

 the Legislature to locate such an institution. 



Such a petition, signed by Aaron Ashley and seventeen 

 others, was presented to the Legislature of 1848. 



Commissioners concerning an Agricultural School. 



Gov. Geo. N. Briggs, in his inaugural address on Jan. 8, 

 1850, expressed his sympathy with agriculturists in the fol- 

 io win sj words : — 



The application of science to agriculture is attracting the 

 attention of the public, and exciting the interest of those who 

 are engaged in the cultivation of the earth, A better knowl- 

 edge of the qualities of the soil, and of the nature and properties 

 of the substances necessary to enrich it, than has heretofore 

 been generally possessed, would greatly increase its produc- 

 tions. This knowledge may be derived from science. Chem- 

 istry holds this treasure in its hands. Schools and lectures, 

 publications and practical experiments, are the instruments 

 through which it is to be attained. Whatever can be done to 

 promote this desirable object, by legislative aid, is due to this 

 most ancient and useful of all human pursuits, and that large 

 and respectable portion of the community who are engaged in 

 it. Content with the bounties received from the earth, this 

 class of our fellow-citizens have hitherto received but incon- 

 siderable contributions from the government. I cheerfully 

 commend the subject to your favorable consideration and 

 action.^ 



In the Senate, on Jan. 11, 1850, it was ordered that so 

 much of the Governor's address as related to agriculture be 

 referred to Ihe committee on aOTiculture. The followinsf 

 memorials and petitions in behalf of agricultural education 

 were presented to the Legislature and referred to the same 

 committee : petition of the Trustees of the Massachusetts 

 Society for Promoting Agriculture, by John C. Gray, presi- 

 dent ; memorial of the Norfolk County Agricultural Society, 

 by C. Francis Adams, Marshall P. Wilder, B. F. Copeland, 



» Acts and Resolves of 1850, p. 533. 



