54 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ing must come first through well grown home-grown t*'ees ; second, 

 the best orchards, at least of most varieties, are those planted out 

 as seedlings and grafted in the limbs; third, our most profitable 

 varieties are those well known in the market, with perhaps the ex- 

 ception of the Baldwin, which is not fully reliable and does not 

 mature so as to possess that excellence of quality that it does in 

 more favored localities. We are growing extensiveh' the Rolfe, a 

 seedling originated in Guilford, which is superior to an\'thing we 

 grow in its season, late fall and early winter. This variety is becom- 

 ing disseminated and is giving complete satisfaction. 



Accompanying the paper of Mr. Leland, was an interesting letter from 

 Calvin Chamberlain, Esq., of Foxcroft, relating to the history of fruit 

 culture in the State, and especially in Piscataquis county, and forming a 

 valuable contribution to that department; which will appear subse- 

 quently. 



STUDIES OX THE CODLING MOTH. 

 By Charles G. Atkins, of Bucksport. 



In the summer of 1882, I passed the most of the time between 

 July and October upon my farm in Manchester and Readfield, and 

 was able to make some original observations on the habits of the 

 codling moth. They were far from complete, being in ftict but the 

 first steps in a series of studies which I proposed to make on this 

 insect, and which I do not despair of being able to carr}- out some 

 day, though the opportunity is for the 2)re5ent denied me. Yet, 

 fragmentar}^ as my notes are, I venture to present them to the 

 Society', with the hope that they may incite some one else to pursue 

 the same object in a s^'stematic way. 



I am a devout believer in system in all studies, as I am a believer 

 in the study of all important topics. I have no faith in guess-work, 

 and am skeptical toward all theories deduced from observations con- 

 ducted by the rale of thumb. When, therefore I wish to know how 

 an apple worm enters an apple and how he proceeds after entering, 

 I consider it much better to examine a lot of wormy apples, without 



