No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS CROPS. xxiii 



still backward, but coining forward rapidly, and very prom- 

 ising. Much of the crop is used for ensilage. Haying was 

 practically completed, the crop exceeding expectation, and 

 being above average in quantity and of excellent quality. 

 The amoiuit of forage crops planted was slightly less than 

 usual, but all promised well. Market-garden crops showed 

 unusually good yields, with prices lower than usual, but not 

 too low for profit. Few early potatoes had been dug, but 

 the crop promised well. Returns did not indicate that the 

 apple crop would be up to the average of a bearing year. 

 Pears promised but a light cro}) ; plums a heavy crop ; 

 peaches much below the normal ; grapes promised well ; 

 cranberries much below average, owing to late frosts and 

 hail. Pastures were reported as short and dry in some sec- 

 tions, but the rains of the closing days of the month cor- 

 rected this condition. Rye, oats and barlej^ were reported 

 to be unusual]}^ good crops. 



Indian corn continued somewhat backward durins: Auiiust, 

 but was earing well, and promised a good crop. Rowen 

 promised more than an average crop, and would have been 

 even better, save that the first crop was cut too late on 

 many fields. Potatoes were somewhat backward, but the 

 vines were very heavy and a good crop promised, though 

 blight was general in eastern sections, with some complaints 

 of rot. The acreage of tobacco was little changed, and one 

 of the finest crops ever secured was in prospect. Pastures 

 have seldom been in better condition. Oats gave a very 

 good cro}), with barley unusually good as a forage crop and 

 little raised for grain. 



Uncut corn Avas severely damaged b}- frosts on September 

 22 and 23. More than an average crop of rowen Avas se- 

 cured, and fall feed was in excellent condition in most sec- 

 tions. Less fall seeding than usual was done, but where 

 l)ut in early, a good catch was reported. Onions were con- 

 siderably below a normal croj), though perhaps better than 

 previously expected. Root crops generally promised well, 

 though there were some complaints of injury from frost. 

 Celery and other late market-garden crops promised well. 

 In the western counties an extraordinarily heavy crop of 



