42 
In work of this nature it is difficult to make definite statements - 
regarding the value of the service. At the present time there are 
forty-three observers on my list, representing thirty-nine counties. 
Summarizing the work to Saturday, August 12, a total of 200 reports 
have been received, a little over fifteen for each of the thirteen weeks, 
or an average of five for each observer, if we deduct the names of 
three who for some cause have failed to send in one report. On look- 
ing over the record it will be found that three observers have submitted 
but one report during the season, four two reports, four three reports, and 
six fourreports. Though these numbers are low for a period of thirteen 
weeks, it must be remembered that this is a voluntary service on the 
part of the individual, and in some instances was undertaken simply to 
help along what was regarded as a good work. During this period some 
have been ill; others have changed their plans, and found themselves 
away from home much more than was expected in the early spring. 
A few have sent in reports only when they saw something, and from 
certain localities I have been assured that no injurious insects have 
proved troublesome. While an entomologist who had the training and 
leisure to look for insects would find much of interest, the case is by 
no means the same when a busy man undertakes the task with little or 
no previous training. While a number have sent in relatively few 
reports, others have been most faithful and have proved themselves 
valuable agents. Two observers have not failed to submit the weekly 
report, two missed but one week, and three sent in nine reports. As 
is well known to naturalists, the value of the report lies in its contents 
and not in its length. In this respect most of the reports have aver- 
aged very well, while those of a few observers could hardly be improved. 
Abridged summaries of the reports received from the voluntary observ- 
ers have been printed weekly in the Country Gentleman, published at 
Albany, and aimost weekly in the New York Farmer, published at 
Port Jervis. Copies of these summaries were sent to several other 
agricultural papers having a circulation in New York State, but as 
they did not care to use the matter they were dropped from the list. 
In summarizing it will be interesting to see how the establishment 
of the organization has accomplished the desired ends. The corre- 
spondence of the office has been very much larger the present season 
than in any other since my connection with it. Some of this was 
undoubtedly due to other causes, but a considerable proportion, aside 
from that with the observers themselves, I attribute to the activity of 
the voluntary observers in advising others where to apply for informa- 
tion. One man I know of has been particularly active in this respect. 
It has been a source of gratification to note that almost every outbreak 
in the State has at some time or other been brought to my notice 
through the voluntary observers, even though my first knowledge of it 
may have come through other channels; and I must also add that in 
every instance the reports of these agents have been conservative and 
