324 FIEST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



estimated abroad, that he was elected to membership in the Entomological 

 Societies of France and of Russia, and a gold medal was bestowed upon him by the 

 Central Agricultural Society of France, in appreciation of his services to science. [*] 

 Among his foreign correspondents he numbered Westwood and Curtis of Lon- 

 don, Andrew Murray of Edinburgh, Dr. Grerstacker of Berhn, Dr. Signoret and 

 M. Selys de Longchamps of Paris, and many others of the most eminent entomol- 

 ogists of Europe . 



It may properly be claimed that the New York Reports led the way for simi- 

 lar investigations in other States of the Union, and to the interest which they 

 aroused, we are indebted for the valuable series of Riley's Reports on the 

 Insects of Missouri — nine in number, and comprising over 1,800 pages and 

 numerous illustrations of a high order, — the Reports of the State Entomologists 

 of Illinois, and others. 



[*The medal was awarded to Dr. Fitch, in the year 1858, after the publication of his First 

 and Second Reports, in consideration of their value to Agriculture. The following descrip- 

 tion of the medal and translation of the Report accompanying it, is extracted from the 

 New York State Agricultural Society's Transactions for the year 1858 : 



The medal weighs an ounce, nearly — bears on the obverse side the portrait of the 

 Father of French Agriculture, surrounded with the inscription, "Olivier de Serres, N. 

 EN 1539, M. 2, JT 1619;" on the reverse an agricultural wreath, around which are the words, 

 " Societe Imperiale et Centrale d'Agricdltdre ;" and on its inside, "A Mb. Asa 

 Fitch, a Albany, State of New York, ]858." 



The following is the Report: 



[Translation.] 



Imperial Central Societt of Agriculture, Paris — Report. 



The Society has lately received, through Mr. Vattemare, an important work, by Mr. Asa 

 Fitch, of the State of New York, on Insects which are injurious in Agriculture, and it has 

 charged the section of Natural History to make a report to the Society upon it. 



The work is composed of two reports, addressed to the Agricultural Society of New 

 York, and published by the Legislative Assembly of the State. It treats principally of the 

 insects which attack fruit trees, and contains a large number of observations, accurately 

 made, relative to the habits of these animals, and also very judicious application of these 

 facts to the treatment of plants infested by them. On account of the peculiarity of these 

 investigations, which embrace a multitude of minute and often isolated details, it would be 

 difficult in this report to present an analysis of the work of Mr. Fitch, but we believe it to 

 be our duty to recommend it to the attention of Naturalists, who are engaged in the study 

 of the relations of Entomology to Agriculture. The larger part of the facts mentioned by 

 the author belongs to the history of varieties which are only found in America, and con- 

 sequently do not directly interest French Agriculture; still there will be found many ob- 

 servations from which Entomologists of every country will be able to profit, and we think 

 that it is the duty of the Imperial Central Society of Agriculture to encourage all good 

 works undertaken in such a useful direction. 



The section has the honor, therefore, to propose to the Society to award to Mr. Asa 

 Fitch a Gold Medal, with the bust of Olivier de Serres, in acknowledgment of his work. 

 [Signed] A. VALENCIENNES, 



GUERIN MENEVILLE, 

 MILNE EDWARDS, 



Committee. 

 The resolution proposed was adopted at the meeting of April 14, 1858. A true copy. 

 Signed : For the Permanent Secretary : 



The Recording Secretary, F. De Lagarde.] 



