REPORT 



Of the committee of the Assembly on colleges, acade- 

 mies and common schools, on an agricultural and sci- 

 entific school and experimental farm. Made April 24, 

 1847. 



Mr. Burchard. from the committee on colleges, academies and 

 common schools, to which were referred sundry petitions of the in- 

 habitants of this State, praying the passage of a law to establish an 

 agricultural school and experimental farm, submits the following 



REPORT : 



That your committee have given the subject that consideration 

 which the intense and varied interest of agriculture would seem to 

 demand from their hands. 



It is a conceded point among the liberal and enlightened portion of 

 the community, that those who till the soil should be enabled to 

 draw copiously from the rich streams of modern science. For to 

 the agriculturists are, in a great measure, committed the destinies of 

 the country. Then how vitally important that they transmit, unim- 

 paired, the dear pledges of the nation's hope, her civil and religious 

 institutions, to posterity! 



But the evidence of facts and experiments developed by agricul- 

 tural bodies, proves to a demonstration that farming is vastly in the 

 rear of the other great branches of national industry. The refine- 

 ment and civilization of the present age, appear to make it the im- 

 perative duty of government to cherish and promote a diffusion of 

 knowledge amongst all classes. With just pride a citizen of New- 

 York can look on her admirable and unsurpassed system of public 

 instruction, the model and emulation of her sister States. 



