Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-24
A Maine Scientist Acknowledged

For worker In any field of scientific
or literary investigation to receive hon
orable acknowledgement from one who
occupies the highest ranks in such field,
and by universal consent of experts is
regarded an authority, is one Of the
highest honors any student can expect
to attain. Indeed, such testimonials are
more to be priced than money itself; or
in other words the stereotyped say
ing: Praise from Sir. Rupert is
praise indeed" expresses just this
sentiment. An instance Of this sort,
creditable to Maine scientific worker
appears in ''Insect Life" the bulletin of
the chronological Division of the De-
partment Of Agriculture for March
which has Just come to our table. This
magazine is edited by Prof. c. V. Riley,
| chief Of the division, and an entomolo-
gst of world wide fame, whose praise
Of any chronological investigation is as
good as diploma from learned society
to the person to whom it is given. he.
ferring to the studies of Prof. F. L
Harvey of the Maine State College, on
the life history of the apple maggot-
Trypstd Pomonelin-Prof. Riley says:
Zone of the best pieces OF work which
has been done by the experiment station
entomologists in the past year has re-
suited In the publication of this paper
I,-I ttar t1a hos nt,tf tpns II
careful investigation and carried 1t
through successfully, and has presented
his results in straightforward, scien-
tific and readable way. He gives for
the first time accurate observations
upon the eggs, careful studies Of the re-
productive system, observations upon
| the act of oviposition, and list of sixty
six varieties of apples infested by the
maggot, with comparative statements as
| to damage. His summary of the life his.
| tory il very careful. and his considera-
| ton OF the remedies includes an account
of the useless methods, the preventive
measures. and the direct methods. He
| follows with some critical remarks upon
the anatomy Of Trypeta, and summary
OF the previous writings upon this insect,
correcting the numerous errors which
have occurred in print. He rightly
claims for himself the credit Of record
ing for the first time
Ia) The discovery OF the eggs; the
number of eggs the female deposits
that the eggs are inserted from time to
time. one in place, by means of a
| sharp ovipositor, through the skin OF
the apple; that the eggs are deposited
in the fruit before it is ripe and in early
fruit in early July; the time required
for the eggs 10 hatch.
| (b) That the larva becomes full
grown In from to 8 weeks; that they
leave the apple through characteristic
| openings In the skin, and on grassy
grouud probably hibernate about the
grass roots; that the Larvae stored
In fruit leave it and assume
| the pupa state in the bin;
or barrels; that they occur in the fruit
earlier and during longer time thar
before recorded.
(c) That the flies are on the wing
longer than before recorded; that the
later races Of flies affect the later fruit.
The paper of Prof. Harvey as pub
lished by our State College is accom-
panied by four plates, one OF which
Prof. Riley has re-engraved for "Inseet
Life" The illustrations on these plate:
he calls ''new and interesting" 1t is s
pleasure to all who are acquainted witt
Prof Harvey and who know something
Of his patient. unwearied investigations
upon this subject, as well as in the gen
eral work Of his department at on
State College, that his studies have
been so fairly recognized and judiciously
praised as they have in this instance BY
the great Riley.