ADDRESSES 279 



of agriculture in this Commonwealth, is disposed to give 

 its influence to any well-directed plan for such a school. 



Following this resolution, Messrs. Marshall P. Wilder, 

 Freeman Walker, William S. Clark, Levi Stockbridge, and 

 Charles C. Sewall were chosen a committee "to cooperate 

 at their discretion with any men or body of men who may 

 have any plan for an agricultural school, and to present and 

 report their proceedings at the next meeting of the Board." 



At a meeting held February 27, 1863, Colonel Wilder 

 made a statement of the doings of the above committee. 

 After some discussion, Dr. George B. Loring presented the 

 following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: 



Resolved, That, in the opinion of the State Board of Agri- 

 culture, the grant of land made by Congress to the several 

 States for the establishment of colleges for instruction in 

 agriculture and the mechanic arts is designed expressly for 

 the general diffusion of useful knowledge in these two 

 branches among the people. 



Resolved, That the Legislature is hereby respectfully re- 

 quested to make such disposition of the grant as will en- 

 able the Board of Agriculture, as immediately representing 

 the farming interests of the Commonwealth, to enlarge its 

 sphere of usefulness by exercising a supervision over the 

 employment of the funds arising from the grant, for the 

 purpose of securing the confidence of the agricultural com- 

 munity, and of conducting such a scheme as will operate 

 for the benefit of those engaged in this business. 



Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Board, the interests 

 of the State and intentions of Congress require that the 



