38 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



Jan. 



throne as the highest point on the earth's surface. 

 That distinction belongs for the present so a peak 

 100 miles from Kanchinjinga, and between that 

 mountain and Kanmandoo. Ihis pealv is ascertained 

 to be 29,002 feet above the sea level ; Kanchinjin- 

 ga is 28,150 feet ; and Dewalagirl, the mountain 

 Avhich "school geographies" persist in calling "the 

 highest mountain in the known world," is onl)' 

 26,826 feet. The mountain has no name intelligi- 

 ble to civilized men, and Col. Waugh has therefore 

 ventured to denominate it "Mount Everest,"after a 

 former surveyor general. 



For the New England Farmer. 



EEMAEKS ON THE APPLE. 



I noticed in your journal for Nov., a ])iece head- 

 ed "Apples," from the pen of Mr. S. Fletcher, of 

 Winchester, in which he states that Mr. Cole, in 

 his work on Fruit, remarks, that he never knew a 

 great crop of apples in an odd year, nor a small 

 crop in even. This, generally, may be true, yet I 

 have some varieties, such as the Baldwins, for one, 

 that have borne full crops every year. Many may 

 wonder at this statement, yet it is even so. There are 

 a number of apples that go by the name of Bald- 

 wins that are not, and they are inclined to bear on- 

 ly even years, but the genuine Baldwin, which I 

 think I have, bears full crops every year. I gather- 

 ed a crop of them this season, but they were poor 

 compared with former ones ; this was the case with 

 all my fruit, as well as all I have observed in this 

 section, and it has been a general complaint from 

 every source that apples especially were poor. But 

 to proceed with the subject. He says 1856 is the 

 even year, and yet he thinks we are not likely to 

 have as good crops as we have had in former years, 

 odd or even, for a long time. This is true, as the 

 demand and price testify. I have had some expe- 

 rience in the matter having bought considerable 

 many, and have had to pay as high as four dollars 

 a barrel for them. 



The question has often been asked me, how 1 

 accounted for the failure in the crop ? My rej)ly 

 has been, from the cold blighting winds and unfa- 

 vorable weather which we have had while the trees 



and then we may hope to have apples enough for 



all. 



I think there has been a mistaken notion with 

 many persons in regard to fruit, and especially ap- 

 ples. It is this, that there was danger of setting too 

 many trees. We should have more fruit than would 

 be salable. Many individuals have often made this 

 remark to me, but do not such forget that the con- 

 sumption is greater every year ? And they have 

 not taken into account that many trees are dying 

 every season from want of care, or from not se- 

 lecting good trees to set. The danger, if any, is 

 the opposite, which all will acknowledge who have 

 been watchful of the market, and that is, that there 

 w'U not be enough set. There is no mistake but 

 what we have poor fruit enough, but good choice 

 fruit will always find a ready market. 



Yours, truly, D. Chauncey Brewer. 



Springjield, JVov. 13, 1856. 



For the New England Farmer. 



SNOW FLEAS. 



Dear Sir : — I wish to make inquiries relating to 

 a species of animal life which has often enlisted 

 my sympathies. Although harmless and innumer- 

 able, I have never seen any account of their habits, 

 propagation, subsistence, uses, length of life, man- 

 ner of death, &c. &c. I refer to what is commonly 

 called "Snow Fleas," which generally appear in the 

 unpropitious season of February or March. 



My pity has been much excited to see millions 

 as if in the last efforts of life struggling amidst cold 

 snow, frost and water, when I could see no shel- 

 ter, sustenance, home or hope of relief for them 

 whatever. Can they come from the ground when 

 it is frozen and densely covered with snow ? Do 

 they come from the clouds ? and if so, how do they 

 get there ? AYhat do they live upon, and in what 

 is their enjoyment? Exquisite mechanism and 

 skill is manifest in their construction, and as much 

 strength and energy (in proportion to size) as per- 

 haps in any other created animal. 



Yours, &c., Elias Sharpe. 



Lockporl, jY. F., 1856. 



