56.6 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the actual insect is better than a page or two of description. There- 

 fore in writing for information about any insect always enclose a speci- 

 men if possible, no matter how common or well known you may believe 

 it to be; and if no sample of the insect can be found, send a sample of 

 its work. In sending specimens by mail, they should be sent in glass or 

 tin if possible, and with some of their natural food if alive. Leaves and 

 fruits wilt rapidly if enclosed in wood or pasteboard boxes, and are also 

 very likely to be crushed or broken in transmission. Small tin boxes of 

 any shape may be used, and it is well to put a slip of paper with the 

 address of the sender inside the box, in case the outer wrapper should be 

 torn off or defaced. If a letter is enclosed with the specimens, the whole 

 package is subject to letter postage; if the two are sent separately, they 

 should be addressed exactly alike, and the package of specimens should 

 be marked with the sender's name and address invariably. Failure to 

 attend to this simple rule has led to more disappointment and trouble 

 than would be supposed. Rarely does a week pass when we do not re- 

 ceive specimens without letters, or letters without specimens which are 

 said to have been sent; and it is no uncommon thing during the height 

 of the season to receive half a dozen packages by the same mail and to 

 be unable to decide which are the insects referred to in letters received 

 at the same time. Always send insects alive if possible, but send in 

 strong, tight boxes — insects need no air-holes whatever. Ne"v<er try to 

 kill scale insects or others by dipping in kerosene or other insecticide 

 before mailing. Always state definitely what harm, if any, the insect is 

 supposed to be doing, and whether it is abundant or scarce. 



The bulletin is mainly the work of Mr. Rufus H. Pettit, the efficient 

 Assistant Entomologist of the Station, and I take pleasure in acknowl- 

 edging at this time his cordial and intelligent help in all the various 

 functions of our several positions, and in expressing my satisfaction with 

 the manner in which all his duties have been performed. I would also 

 tender my thanks to Dr. L. O. Howard, chief of the Division of Ento- 

 mology, of the United States Department of Agriculture, for the use of 

 severa 1 electrotypes, credit for which is also given with each cut, and to 

 Professor M. V. Slingerland of Cornell University for similar favors. 



