IO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
Hydrology of New York by George W. Rafter. This was the 
earliest attempt to present an orderly account of the water power 
of the State and the possibilities of its development. 
Paleontology. This branch of geological science has, from the 
earliest history of the institution, absorbed paramount attention 
and during the past 80 years has invited and received sympathetic 
support from successive legislatures. Being that science which 
deals in the records of ancient life with which the greater portion of 
the rocks are crowded, it has special attributes of highest 
worth in unraveling the geological history of the State and in 
establishing the orderly succession and classification of the rock 
strata which are the foundation of the State. In the higher scientific 
values, the recovery of the true picture of past epochs, their orderly 
relation, the light their data cast upon the larger problems of the 
derivation and continuity of life, paleontology takes lead among all 
the sciences. The publications on this science issued from this De- 
partment have been voluminous and are accepted as of standard and 
essential worth. 
Botany. The official study of the native flora of the State has been 
carried on continuously for more than a half century. It has made 
known not only the plants constituting the natural growth of the 
State but has thrown vast light upon their habits, their adaptability 
to human uses, besides bringing to scientific knowledge thousands 
of species of plants not before recognized. It has also in- 
vestigated the diseases in the plant world caused by parasitic plant 
life itself. The State Botanist is the custodian of the great state 
herbarium which is the repository of a great collection of plants. 
The publications issued from this branch cover both the flowering 
plants, including trees and shrubs, and the flowerless plants, par- 
ticularly the mushrooms. These have attained notable recognition 
of their worth to the State and the science. 
Entomology. The insects are such an enormous army and their 
ravages make such serious inroads on all crops of farm, garden and 
forest, that their control is an important state function. To effect 
such control an understanding of their mode of life is essential. 
This is the principal business of the State Entomologist and his 
staff —to know these insects in all their varying phases and to 
ascertain their habits. The insects of New York are reckoned in 
thousands of species, each species presenting various forms. Many 
of these are noxious, many others beneficial, but all must be under- 
stood in order to grasp their relations to our own existence. Con- 
stant touch is maintained with granges, farm institutes, other soci- 
eties and organizations concerned with the larger agricultural, horti- 
