576 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



many, knowing little or nothing of its nature, were content with a glance 

 or two. At the Oswego county fair the interest was if anything more 

 marked. There was in constant attendance at each fair a member of the 

 official force for the purpose of answering questions and explaining the 

 more important features of the collection. Thus information was dis- 

 seminated through the examination of insects and their work and by 

 personal explanations, and all was supplemented by the distribution of a 

 small catalogue giving in brief form the more striking characteristics of 

 the insect and in a word outlining the method of keeping it in check, 



The following extracts will give an idea of the interest taken in this 

 new departure : 



This exhibit, which is made under the auspices of the University of 

 the State of New York, is attracting much attention, both from the mere 

 sight-seeker and from the practical farmer. Mr G. W. J. Angell, who is 

 in charge of the greater New York exhibit in Machinery hall . . . said : 



" I trust that this exhibit of insects is but an entering wedge, and will 

 be greatly enlarged at future state fairs. The heavy annual loss to the 

 farmers and lumbermen of our state from the depredations of insect 

 enemies runs high into the millions. The abiHty to differentiate between 

 those creatures which are injurious and those directly or indirectly beneficial, 

 and how best to prevent the ravages of the former, is as necessary to the 

 successful farmer as the knowledge of the comparative values and the 

 use of modern agricultural machinery. An insect, which today from its 

 rarity is comparatively harmless to crops, may next year, from a sudden 

 increase in its numbers, become a most destructive pest, and only by a 

 knowledge of its hfe history and of the critical stage in its development, 

 when the proper insecticides are most potent, can the threatened danger 

 be averted 



The handy little pocket catalogue of the present exhibit . . . gives 

 descriptions of some 75 of the commoner injurious insects with the prop- 

 er remedies to be used against their attacks, and is one of the most 

 valuable features of the exhibit. Some of the insects which are directly 

 beneficial are also noted, such as the various silk worms, both native and 

 exotic, and the bees which carry pollen from flower to flower, without 

 whose labors many of our most valuable plants would become extinct." — 

 Evening he7'ald^ Syracuse, 7 Sep. 



A new and valuable exhibit in Floral hall was a collection of 82 nox- 

 ious and beneficial insects . . . probably the first attempt to bring the 

 latest results of entomological science before the people at a .state fair. 

 The specimens were admirably arranged in cases, showing their succes- 

 sive changes and samples of their work on bark, wood and leaves. They 

 were constantly surrounded by observers, many drawn perhaps by the 

 star of the season, the kissing bug, Opsicoetus personatus, 

 but many fruit and shade tree growers were specially delighted with this 

 opportunity to study the life history of pests whose ravages have been so 

 sorely felt. The value of economic entomology can not better be made 

 known than by thus bringing such exhibits before the people We trust 

 that it may become a regular feature of future fairs. The exhibit has 



