952 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



diflicuii lurins aiui imu n of the technical proof reading has fallen on 

 my second assistant, Miss Boynton. The state of Virginia has refused 

 to accept nursery stock under a certificate issued by the state department 

 of agriculture, and the state entomologist has, in compliance with the 

 commissioner's request, issued certificates approving and indorsing the 

 inspection. The large additions to the collection require much 

 time for the proper pinning, labeling and recording of the specimens. 

 Fortunately much of this work can be done by comparatively unskilled 

 labor. The demand for popular information through the press and cor- 

 respondence has not diminished. During the year 1 136 letters, 444 post- 

 als, 176 circular letters and 1712 packages were sent through the mails. 



Special investigations. Three lines of special work have been 

 prosecuted in atldiiion to minor investigations of insects brought to notice 

 from time to time, i) A series of experiments have been carried on to 

 determine the best methods of controlling the San Jose scale in orchards. 

 The results are given under the appropriate title, and in this connection 

 a study of this and related scale insects has also been made, and the re- 

 sults will be presented in a later bulletin, 2) A most promising investi- 

 gation of the insects injurious to our vast forest interests has been under- 

 taken. 10 days were spent with Dr A. D. Hopkins, of West Virginia, 

 who is a leading authority on the subject, in a study of the insects in 

 the forested mountain regions of that state. Two weeks were spent at 

 Saranac Inn and vicinity and some time in the neighborhood of Albany 

 and also at Manor (L. I.) collecting forms depredating on forest trees. 

 At the last place serious injuries to acres of hard pines have been caused 

 by bark-borers. The results of this work will be prepared for publication 

 shortly. 3) Studies on aquitic insect^ have been pursued. These are 

 noticed in the following paragraph. 



Entomologic field station. The aquatic insects of the state are 

 of considerable ctonouHc inij>urtance, because many game fishes find in 

 them and associated forms a considerable proportion of their sustenance. 

 This field has been comparatively neglected in New York, and there- 

 fore it was deemed wise to have some special work done along this line. 

 The museum was fortunate in securing for the summer the services of 

 Dr James G. Needham, of Lake Forest university. Lake Forest (111.), 

 who had made a special study of certain aquatic insects and was there- 

 fore well equipped for the work. Through the courtesy of the commis- 

 sioners of fisheries, game and forest, the facilities of the Adirondack 

 hatchery at Saranac Inn were j)laced at the disposal of my oflice for this 

 work. Dr Needham was in immediate charge of the station, and was 



