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known. All grass lands are looking poorly, but fall seeding is in fair 

 condition. There was an average fruit bloom with no late frosts. Cut 

 worms are unusually numerous in gardens. Farm help is scarce, 

 mostly Poles, and generally good. Wages range from S20 to S30 per 

 month, with board, and from SI. 75 to $2 per day, without board. 

 There is no particular change in the acreage of farm crops. Late 

 forage crops must be grown to supplement the short hay crop. 



Erving (Charles F. Clark). — The season is an average one. 

 The promise for pastures and mowings is favorable and fall seeding 

 wintered well. The fruit bloom is above the average and there has 

 been no damage from frost. Insects are doing little damage. Planting 

 is progressing slowly. Farm help is scarce and half of it is good help. 

 Wages average $25 per month, with board, and $1.75 per day, without 

 board. There is no marked change in the acreage of farm crops. 



New Salem (Daniel Ballard). — The season was cold, dry and 

 backward, but vegetation, is pushing forward rapidly since the hot 

 spell. With good rains the haj'' crop will be normal; fall seeding 

 wintered well. There was a heavy fruit bloom, especially of apples 

 and pears. No great damage has been done by insects. Planting is 

 progressing slowly. Farm help is rather scarce, but perhaps half of it 

 is good help. Wages average $1 per day, with board, and $1.50 per 

 day, without board. There are no changes in the acreage of farm 

 crops. Forest fires have been frequent and much damage has been 

 done. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Greenwich (Walter H. Glazier). — The season is two weeks late. 

 Pastures and mowings are looking well now and fall seeding came 

 through the winter nicely. There is a fair apple bloom; other fruits 

 not grown; no damage from frost. But little planting has been done, 

 but much of the land is ready. There are a few tent caterpillars doing 

 damage. Wages for farm help average about $1.50 per day. The 

 acreage of corn and potatoes is about the same as usual. There have 

 been a large number of railroad forest fires this spring; damage about 

 $15,000. 



Belchertown (A. L. Pratt). — The season is very diy. Pastures 

 and mowings are looking slim, but fall seeding wintered well. The 

 fruit bloom was favorable and has not suffered from frost. Tent 

 caterpillars are doing damage on apple trees. Planting is progressing 

 well. Farm help is scarce and half of it is good. Wages average $1 

 per day, with board, and $1.50 per day, without board. There is no 

 particular change in the acreage of farm crops. 



Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — There is a marked deficiency of rain- 

 fall, and for past two weeks abnormally high temperatures. Pastures 

 and mowings are in poor condition, owing to dry weather and heat; 

 fall seeding wintered well. Apple bloom medium; pears, peaches and 



