No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 365 



commissioners shall receive no pay for their services, but their 

 expenses, including the cost of the required plan, not to exceed 

 two hundred dollars, shall be paid from the treasury of the 

 Commonwealth. 



This commission was constituted June 12, 1861, by the 

 appointment of Rejoice Newton of Worcester, Thomas F. 

 Plunkett of Pittsfield and Charles G. Davis of Plymouth. 



An order for considering the abolishing of this commission 

 was introduced in the Legislature of 1862, and referred to 

 the committee on agriculture. On April 19 this committee 

 reported a resolve for continuing the commission, accom- 

 panied by a report, in which it said : — 



They have communicated with the commissioners and are 

 informed that they have entered upon investigations and in- 

 quiries appertaining to their duties, which the Committee 

 believe may result in benefit to the Commonwealth. The 

 present condition of the country and of the finances of the 

 Commonwealth render it inexpedient to make any approj^ria- 

 tion from the treasury for an agricultural school at the present 

 time, but the friends of agriculture are making efforts to raise 

 funds for such a school, which they hope may eventually 

 receive the assistance and encouragement of the State, and 

 look forward to the report of the commissioners for valuable 

 suggestions and information. ... as the commissioners are 

 entitled to no compensation for their services, the Committee 

 are of opinion that the Commission should be continued, and 

 accordingly report the accompanying resolve. 

 For the Committee, 



Orlo Burt. 



By chapter 71 of the Resolves of 1862 it was provided 

 that the provisions of the resolves of the preceding year 

 should be " extended one year." 



Judge Davis says, of the doings of this commission : — 



The minds of neither of my seniors had ever been directed 

 to the subject, and they met with a feeling that the action of 

 the Legislature was a feint, and that nothing was expected of 

 them. We were advised not to report at once. Mr. Morrill's 

 bill would be again offered under Mr. Lincoln, and if it passed. 



