REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 227 



val, up to the present, has given to the people of the State details of the 

 life-histories and habits of all of our more noxious insects, accompanied 

 with methods for their control. These studies are accessible in State re- 

 ports to all who may desire to consult them. Their recommendations 

 are conceded to be of great value, and if the information they contain be 

 utilized to the extent that it should be, the occasion will seldom arise 

 when aid from legislation is needed. 



There may be, however, insect infestation in some other State or coun- 

 try of such a pronounced dangerous character, that its introduction 

 should be guarded against by quarantine laws. Or, an insect may have 

 multiplied to such an extent that its control is entirely beyond individual 

 effort, as in the case of the gypsy moth in Massachusetts. Again, a newly 

 introduced insect pest, known only in a single locality but threatening an 

 almost unlimited range, may call for its extermination while the task is 

 simple and inexpensive.* Still another instance is that of the presence of 

 the San Jose scale in the State of New York. There is reason to fear that 

 it has been sent into every county of the State. In how many orchards it 

 has found place can not be known, without special examination of sus- 

 pected localities by a person competent to identify it. Its dangerous 

 character demands its extermination if it can be accomplished. Although 

 it has had a foothold in the State for, probably, five years or more, it is 

 believed that its extermination is practicable if the proper effort can be 

 made at once, under the provisions of a bill which has been drawn up 

 and introduced in the present Legislature, reading as follows: 



AN ACT to provide for the extermination of the San Jose Scale in 



the State of New York. 



The People of the State of New York, represejited in Senate and 

 Assembly, do enact as follows : 



Section i. Whenever the state entomologist may have knowledge of 

 the existence of the San Jose scale, or has reason to believe in the proba- 

 bility of its existence in any locality within the State of New York on 

 any trees, plants, vines, or fruit, he shall notify the commissioner of 

 agriculture, who shall thereupon appoint one or more experts who shall 

 be sufficiently familiar with the scale to be able to recognize it, for the 

 prompt inspection of the infested or suspected locality. 



§ 2. Such agent shall make thorough inspection of the locality named, 

 and if the existence of the scale is found therein, he shall notify the 



* Such an opportunity was lost when the pear-midge was confined to a few orchards in the town 

 of Meriden, Conn. 



