THE FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 



SECRETARY 



Board of Agriculture 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 



Massachusetts. 



The season of 1898 opened about a week later than the 

 normal, with cold weather and excessive moisture in April, 

 and at the end of May it was still about a week late. 

 Mowings were everywhere in first-class condition and past- 

 ures secured a remarkably good start. Fall seeding win- 

 tered well in almost every case and made a good growing 

 start. The fruit bloom was, on the whole, about average. 

 But little damage from insects was reported. Spraying 

 against insects was not practised as much as it should have 

 been. Strictly first-class help was, as always, hard to secure. 

 Wages averaged about $17 to $18 per month with board and 

 about $1.25 per day without board. No marked changes in 

 the acreage of farm crops were reported and no new enter- 

 prises in agriculture. 



In June insects did not appear to be doing any notable 

 damage, except in isolated cases. Indian corn looked fairly 

 well, though rather backward, with about the usual acreage. 

 Haying had not generally begun, but the crop was generally 

 spoken of as very heavy indeed. The acreage of early 

 potatoes was greatly above the average and the crop gener- 

 ally promised very well. Early market-garden crops were 

 rather late, but those harvested made good yields, with 

 prices ruling about as usual. Dairy products showed a slight 



