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two parts. The first, upon economical entomology, giving an account of all tha 
has been ascertained respecting the insects infesting our fruit trees, and any other 
injurious species that may have been obtained. The second, upon scientific ento- 
mology, giving a systematically arranged catalogue of all the insects of the State, 
so far as they are known, with a brief description of such new and undescribed as 
may be discovered. 
The work should be pursued with a view of eventually securing to the State as 
full and complete accounts of all the insects of this State as far as to place this 
important science (which is at the present so greatly in the background, and so 
partially and imperfectly explored on this side of the Atlantic) in as perfect a 
position and as favorable a situation for being acquired as its nature will admit of. 
Should there be time, in addition to the above, to perform other labor, it is desired — 
Thirdly, that a commencement should be made in writing out full descriptions of 
the species pertaining to some partcular order, with observations upon the time oi 
appearing, habits, etc., with a view of future publication, so as to secure a complete 
account of all the insects of the State pertaining to that order. 
Lastly, suits of specimens to fully illustrate both the economical and scientific 
<'iitomology of the State should be gathered in connection with the other parts of 
this work, to be placed in the Cabinet of Natural History; and in4he Agricultural 
Museum specimens of the wood, leaves, and fruits; and other substances depre- 
dated upon by each and every species of our noxious insects, showing the galls 
or other excrescences which they occasion, the holes or burrows which they exca- 
vate, the webs or other coverings for themselves which they construct, with pre- 
served specimens of the worms, caterpillars, etc., by which each of these deform- 
ities is produced. 
Such further examination as Dr. Fitch may deem necessary to carry out fully the 
objects desired to be accomplished, as from time to time may be deemed advisable, 
the committee desire may be made. 
William Kelly, 
B. F. Johnsox, 
Committee. 
Dr. Fitch, while not officially designated as State entomologist of 
New York, was always given this title by courtesy, and continued in 
office until 1871 or 1872, when his fourteenth report was published, 
and when the infirmities of age affected him to such an extent that he 
could no longer continue his investigations. The reports were published 
in the Transactions of the State Agricultural Society from 1854 to 
1870, skipping the years 1859, 1865, and 1868. The first eleven have 
been published separately, as well as in the transactions of the society. 
In 1873, through an appropriation by the State legislature, provision 
was made for the revision and republication of the reports, and the 
revision was completed by Dr. Fitch. The resolution for printing, 
however, failed of the concurrence of the senate, and since that time 
the manuscript has been lost. 
The value of Dr. Fitch's labors has been very great. In his fourteen 
reports the great majority of the injurious insects of the State of New 
York received more or less detailed consideration, and in the majority 
of cases the life histories of the insects treated were worked out with 
great care and detail. The remedial measures suggested by Dr. Fitch 
have, however, been largely improved upon, and the practical value of 
these reports today rests almost entirely upon the life-history side. 
