42 PRIZE ESSAY: 



" Say, mais de couleur moins fonc6e, qui parait avoir des moeurs 

 " analogues avec 1'espece d' Amerique. Elle a cause 1'anne* passee 

 " des grands ravages au froment des Gouv. Simbirsk et Saratov. 

 " Je 1'ai decrite avec son parasite le platyyaster funestus m., 

 " dans le Journal du Ministere de 1'Interieur, 1852." I have 

 no doubt that this Russian insect is identical with our Hessian 

 fly, which, when first hatched, is paler than afterwards. 



70. The foregoing paragraphs seem to show, without any re- 

 maining doubt, that the Hessian fly is a European insect, and 

 that its depredations have been known and lamented many years 

 before it was heard of or observed in America. We may, there- 

 fore, accept the popular narrative of its introduction here, and 

 avail ourselves of all the information which the experience of its 

 past history, habits and ravages in Europe can afford. 



HISTORY OF ITS PROGRESS. 



71. The following records of the appearance of this destruc- 

 tive insect in the United States and Canada, have been collated 

 from various resources, but chiefly from the United States Patent 

 Office Reports ; Dr. Fitch's Essay ; the transactions of the New 

 York Agricultural Society ; American and Canadian agricultural 

 periodical publications, correspondence, &c. 



About the year 1776 the Hessian fly was introduced into 

 Staten and Long Island from Europe. 



1779. 

 Caused great damage to wheat in Long Island. 



1786. 



Appeared in New Jersey, 40 miles south-east of Staten Island ; 

 east end of Long Island ; Shelter Island. 



1788. 



Very destructive near Trenton, N.J. ; commenced its ravages 

 in the State of Pennsylvania. 



