NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



329 



of the more perfect manner of curing, and atten- 

 tion to the time of cutting. There are many indi- 

 vidual exceptions here. There is as good hay 

 made here, as there is in the north, ami as good 

 farmers, and as scientific farmers too, hut they arc 

 exceptions to the rule, not the rule itself. Myob- 

 ject, of course, is to do my part to make all our 

 fanners what the exceptions arc admitted to he. — 

 Albany Cultivator. 



WHBRE DID THHY COME FROM? 



On Thursday, the 3d June hist., we entered our 

 garden at about half past 4 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, where we witnessed a sight new and unheard 

 of by ns before. It was a column of the insects 

 which usually appear in large numbers at this sea- 

 son of the year, or perhaps a little later, and gen- 

 erally called May-flies, or for want of a better 

 name, "two-tailed bashaws," by the fanciful. 

 They have two wings and six legs, the two front 

 legs appearing to be used as much as feelers as 

 for locomotion. The abdomen is about half an inch 

 long, and at its termination has two, sometimes 

 three, long hair like appendages equalling the whole 

 length of the body. These insects are dark colored, 

 some of them nearly black. The morning was calm. 



They came from the northeast and were flying 

 southwest, in one unbroken column of more than a 

 quarter of a mile in width. They kept about ten 

 feet from the surface, and the column was perhaps 

 twenty feet deep. At what time in the night or 

 how early in the morning they started, we know 

 not ; but from half-past 4 to 7 o'clock, the column 

 passed on in the same direction, in countless mil- 

 lions, neither turning to the right or left, but ur- 

 gently pursuing their course as if they had some 

 important business which could not well be post- 

 poned. At a quarter-past 7 none were seen. 



Their flight was not very rapid, and what is sin- 

 gular, most of them were coupled together, one 

 flying with his back downward. On disturbing 

 them they merely turned aside, to avoid the ob 

 struction, and immediately came into line again 

 seeming intent to get somewhere very soon. 



Contrary to our expectations, the swallow peo 

 pie seemed to take little notice of them. Occa 

 sionally they would dart through their midst, but 

 we think did not feed upon them, as we heard no 

 snapping of their bills, nor saw any indications of 

 their attempting to avail themselves of the boun- 

 tiful harvest. 



Like the pigeon in its flight, they kept over the 

 high land, and the higher we ascended the hill, 

 the thicker they were. Where did they originate 

 and where were they going? We know of no 

 one but Professor Harris qualified to enlighten us. 

 We should be glad that his lamp might shine up- 

 on this marvellous and unexpected visitation. 



(C^"The whole world has taken the place of 

 Rome in granting indulgence to the rich. 



For the. New England Farmer. 



A NEW APPLE. 



Dear Sir :— I left at your office a few apples of 

 a new variety, a seedling, originating on land ot 

 mine in Sherburne, which promises well for late 

 keeping. I have called it the Mayflower, as it is 

 unlit for use until that month. I tested its value 

 this spring for the first time. The tree is of small 

 size, standing in a pasture, and has borne a medi- 

 um sized apple every other year in abundance, but 

 so hard and unpalatable that we never thought of 

 using them for any purpose but cider. Year be- 

 fore last I saved a' few of them with other winter 

 apples, and opened them in February ; I found 

 them hard and sound, but still unpalatable. Last 

 fall I put up about two-thirds of a barrel of them, 

 mingled with second-quality Russets, filling the 

 barrel. They were not examined until the first of 

 this month ; the Russets were considerably rotten, 

 but not one of the Mayflowers, and half a dozen 

 only were specked. Most of them had ripened 

 finely, some were still hard, their flavor, as you 

 will perceive, excellent for the table, rich, slightly- 

 acid, and aromatic. I believe they bid fair to ri- 

 val in durability and excellence even the Roxbury 

 Russet, which now stands decidedly in advance of 

 all late spring apples. If you think this account 

 and the sample afforded you warrant it, you are at 

 liberty to publish it, with such remarks as you may 

 deem proper. 



Yours, R- C. Stone. 



Sherburne, May 18, 1852. 



Remarks. — We have tasted the apple referred 

 to, and think well of them as late keeping apples. 

 Our friend, however, is somewhat sanguine in his 

 views, as most people are who find a new fruit so 

 accommodating as to spring up unbidden and come 

 to perfection upon their own premises. AA r e cer- 

 tainly think the Mayflower well worth careful at- 

 tention, and have no doubt it may be considerably 

 improved in size and flavor by giving the tree pro- 

 per treatment. AYe have not tasted this apple 

 cooked, but uncooked it falls short in size and fla- 

 vor of some that keep well until mid-summer. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 MAMMOTH RHUBARB. 



Mr. Brown :— Dear Sir,— AYe send you six 

 stalks of "Myatt's A 7 ictoria" rhubarb ; it is not so 

 large as we have seen, still it is very fair. AYe 

 send one of the leaves, as you will see ; it is quite 

 large ; if you do not raise this variety, perhaps 

 you, and may be Mr. Raynolds, would like to test 

 its quality. We think it as good in quality as 

 any we have ever seen . 



Yours respectfully, 



James Hyde & Son. 



Newton Centre, June 7, 1852. 



Remarks.— We knew you were "tall on vegeta- 

 bles," but had no idea that you were imitating 

 the California pines with your rhubarb. AVe shall 

 despatch it to "our tie up" by the first freight 

 train ! and only regret that you will not be with 

 us to help eat the "four dozen pies" which will 

 probably come out of it ! 



