18 
the crops during a number of the following years, sometimes se- 
verely, at others but moderately. On two or three occasions, 
many of the fields in Saratoga county were entirely destroyed. 1 
do not learn that in this vicinity their devastations at any time 
reached this extent. About the year 1803, their last depredations 
were committed. From that time this insect has never been ob- 
served in this vicinity, that I can ascertain, until the autumn of 
last year. 
In 1792, the recently instituted New York Society for the Pro- 
motion of Agriculture, Arts, and Manufactures, issued part first 
of their Transactions, containing (p. 71-86), “ Observations on 
the Hesssian Fly, by Jonathan N. Havens.” This is the most 
valuable memoir that had hitherto appeared upon this subject, and 
few of those of a later date surpass it. After sketching the ra- 
vages of the fly in different years in his own vicinity, Judge H. 
describes with much precision its situation and appearance in the 
respective stages of its existence, showing that it passes regularly 
through but two generations in a year, instead of three or four, 
as anterior writers had stated. As remedies, he recommends sow- 
ing none but the bearded wheats, and burning or plowing up the 
stubble soon after harvest. This last important measure had never 
before been proposed; Judge H. had been led directly to it, by 
his close investigations of the habits of this insect. 
The American Philosophical Society this year appointed from 
among its most competent members, a committee (Thomas Jeffer- 
son, B. Smith Barton, James Hutchinson, and Casper Wistar), 
“for the purpose of collecting and communicating to the soviety 
materials for forming the natural history of the Hessian fly.” 
This committee immediately issued a circular, requesting all per- 
sons acquainted with any facts relating to this insect, its depreda- 
tions, and preventives, to communicate the same by letter to their 
chairman. The numerous points upon which information was 
desired, were particularly detailed in an extended series of ques- 
tions, which clearly indicate the importance which they attached 
to this subject, and the thorough investigation which they purposed 
making. It cannot but be regretted that this business, committed 
to such capable hands, was not pursued and brought to a close 
