xiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



or average. To the question, " Has dairying been as profit- 

 able this year as usual?" 72 correspondents answered yes ; 

 39, no ; and 10 stated it to have been more profitable. The 

 chief drawbacks were shortness of pasture feed and high 

 price of grain. Of the 70 direct replies to the question, 

 ' ' Do you think the dairy interests of the State are 

 seriously affected by the manufacture and sale of oleomar- 

 garine ? " 5Q were yes, and 14, no. A portion of the tobacco 

 crop had been harvested in good condition, and considerable 

 had already been sold at unusually high prices. The pear 

 crop was reported to be very large. 



October 1, 24 correspondents stated the crop of Indian 

 corn to be above an average ; 81, a full average ; and 12, 

 below an average. Practically the same figures illustrated 

 the yield and quality of the crop of late potatoes. Sixty- 

 seven correspondents, mostly in the western part of the 

 State, stated that the average amount of fall seeding had 

 been done, and 35, mostly in south-eastern Massachusetts, 

 that it had not, owing to dry weather. Forty-six corre- 

 spondents reported the cranberry crop to be an average in 

 yield and quality, and 31 that it was not. Drawbacks men- 

 tioned were dry weather while in bloom, late frosts, and 

 worms. Tobacco had cured well. Of 113 replies to the 

 question, "Are inquiries for and values of farm property 

 increasing or decreasing in your neighborhood?" 58 noted 

 an increase ; 42, no appreciable change ; and 13, a decrease. 



In the circular to correspondents returnable October 29 

 the first question asked was, " Have root crops done as well 

 this year as usual?" Of the 114 replies to this question, 88 

 answered yes ; 13, no ; and 13 stated that they had done 

 better than usual. Several correspondents reported root 

 crops had been injured by drought, and several that turnips 

 had turned black in the field and were of small size. 



The second question asked was, " Which of the leading 

 crops of your locality do you think have been least profitable 

 this year?" and the third question asked was, "Which of 

 the leading crops of your locality do you think have been 

 most profitable ? " Fifty-seven correspondents stated corn to 

 be among the most profitable crops this year, and 5 stated it 

 to be among the least profitable; for potatoes, 23 most 

 profitable and 37 least profitable ; for hay, 24 most profitable 



