APPENDIX 



[A.] 



Instructions of the Executive to the Commissioner for an Agricultural 

 Surveij. 



Boston, 15th June, 1837. 

 Sir, 



Having accepted the place of Agricultural Surveyor of the Com- 

 monwealth, you will enter on the discharge of its duties with all con- 

 venient despatch. You will consider it of course the great object to 

 carry into effect the Resolve of the Legislature under which you are 

 appointed ; as far as depends on the Surveyor, omitting nothing direct- 

 ed by it ; nor including what is not embraced in it; giving it a liberal, 

 but not a loose construction ; and, in doubtful matters, referring to the 

 Report of the Committee, by which the Resolve was introduced, as a 

 safe guide to its interpretation. 



An Agricultural Survey of the Commonwealth is, of necessity, an 

 undertaking of a character somewhat indefinite. A very general and 

 summary survey, such for instance as would be made by an intelli- 

 gent tourist, would be the work of a few weeks, and would, by no 

 means, be without interest. On the other hand, a survey might be 

 projected, so comprehensive in its plan, and so minute in its details, 

 as to require a long term of years to carry it into execution. The in- 

 formation, which might be collected by such a survey, would no doubt, 

 also be valuable. But it is not presumed, that the Legislature contem- 

 plated a survey of either description, as the one would be too super- 

 ficial to afford much knowledge that would be practically useful, and 

 the other would be too expensive, too voluminous, and too long de- 



