182 
f Assembly 
partment of science is an exploration so urgently required, so 
loudly called for, as in this. Scarcely a week passes, but that 
one and another within the circle of my acquaintance, is coming 
to me with some insect which he has detected, preying upon some 
article of property ; of which insect he is anxious to know the 
name, habits and remedies. Within the past forty-eight hours, 
one has brought me a worm which is infesting the roots of his 
squashes, melons and cucumbers, and has killed a large part of 
these plants in his and his neighbors’ gardens; another has shown 
me some pea-pods, containing a worm which is devouring the 
young peas; a third has brought in some tomato plants, wilted 
and destroyed by a grub that has perforated- the stalk; and a 
young lady has submitted to my notice some caterpillars, which 
she finds devouring her roses. Such facts forcibly show how ' 
much, how very much we need a thorough investigation of the 
Entomology of our country. It is indeed surprising that this 
branch of natural science, in an economical aspect second to no 
other in its importance, should have remained to this day so la¬ 
mentably neglected. In that valuable series ot volumes, the 
Natural History of the State of*New-York, we are presented with 
a full description of every object in the animal, vegetable and 
mineral kingdoms, that exists within our borders—save only our 
insects. This most important hiatus remains to be filled, to com¬ 
plete that great work, and render it full and entire as it was de¬ 
signed to be. Each succeeding year is showing how urgently we 
need the information which this part of that work would furnish 
us. Why should its completion be longer delayed 1 The pecu¬ 
niary loss which we shall sustain the present year, from this one 
insect which is now devastating our orchards, is probably greater 
than will be the whole cost of a survey of the insects of the 
State. 
I have only space left to give you a short description of this 
apple tree worm, reserving a more extended account of it for .a 
future occasion, when I shall have had opportunities for studying 
its entire history. 
It is a cylindrical caterpillar, somewhat resembling a span 
worm. It has sixteen feet, and is scarcely half an inch long 
