232 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



pearaiice of species of insects not before known. We should 

 constantly bear in mind the vast numbers of different kinds 

 of insects which everywhere exist and yet are almost or quite 

 unnoticed by most people. Entomologists, are acquainted 

 with many thousands of different kinds of insects, from our 

 own country, which are probably never noticed by the farmer, 

 and yet the entomologists know only a part of the species 

 "which really exist. If, in the latter part of summer or early 

 in the autumn, you sweep a deep net made of fine cloth 

 through tall grass, grain, or any plants, you will be surprised 

 to see what a vast number of small insects of hundreds of 

 different kinds will be found in the net, and if the operation 

 is repeated all day different kinds will constantly be found. 



The " bug" which was mentioned as found on potato vines 

 with the different stages of the little striped beetle, and de- 

 scribed as having corners sticking out so that it was impossi- 

 ble to tell which was the front and which the back side, must 

 be one of the tree-hoppers, which are allied to the Cicadas, or 

 harvest flies, and have somewhat similar habits. There are a 

 great many kinds of them ; some of the common ones shaped 

 like beech nuts, others more slender and without sharp cor- 

 ners. They all have similar habits in the adult state, pierc- 

 ing with their beaks the plants upon which they live and 

 sucking the juices. They are all more or less injurious and 

 some of them do much damage. 



Permit me again to urge the importance of preserving 

 specimens of insects for examination. I shall always be very 

 glad to do all I can to give any one information in regard to 

 the insects which are met with by farmers or other people. 

 Specimens might be brought to the meetings of the Board, 

 or still better, sent to me at New Haven. Insects may readily 

 be sent by mail, putting them in a small paper box, enclosed 

 in a letter. Any such letters of inquiry I shall be happy to 

 answer as far as I may be able. 



Prop. Johnson. I congratulate the Board of Agriculture 

 on having gotten Mr. Smith interested in behalf of the far- 

 mers of Connecticut on this subject. To be sure, he hails 

 from the same place that I do, and is connected with the same 



