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plums normal; small fruits, except currants, not yet in bloom. Currant 

 worms are the only insect doing damage on cultivated ground, but 

 tent caterpillars have appeared on the wild cherry trees. Planting is 

 progressing rapidly. Farm help is scarce, mostly Polish, and good, 

 though inexperienced. Wages range from $20 to $30 per month, with 

 board, and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day, without board. The acreage 

 of onions is increased, and that of shade grown tobacco is much in- 

 creased, one grower having thirty acres under tent. 



Hadley (H. C. Russell). — The season is ten days late. Fall 

 seeding is in good condition, and owing to dry weather the hay crop 

 bids fair to be light. There is a very heavy bloom on all kinds of fruit 

 and no frosts or insects to do damage. Considerable corn has been 

 planted and a few potatoes. There is farm help enough for present 

 needs and three-fourths of it is good. Wages average $22 to $24 per 

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

 particular change in the acreage of farm crops. Onions are coming up 

 very well. Tobacco setting will begin next week. 



South Hadleij (W. F. Person). — Pastures are ver3^ poor, also 

 mowings, but fall seeding looks well. The bloom of all fruit is full, 

 more than an average, with no frost. Planting is very late, not much 

 having been done. Farm help is scarce and about a third of it good. 

 Wages are from $25 to $30 per month, with board, and about $1.75 

 per day, without board. There is no special change in the acreages 

 of farm crops. 



Hatfield (Thaddeus Graves). — We are now suffering a bad spring 

 drought. The prospect for pastures and mowings is poor unless we 

 have rain soon. The fruit bloom was fine and promises well. May 

 12th is the time to close planting here and corn is now four inches high. 

 Farm help is fairly plenty and about one-fourth of it good help. Wages 

 average $1 per day with board and $1.50 without board. There is 

 little change in the acreage of farm crops. Early sown onions look 

 finely, but those later sown did not come up well, and in many cases 

 are plowed up for other crops. Tobacco plants are ready to set and 

 many are now setting. 



Easthampton (Wm. C. Clapp). — The season is later than usual. 

 Pastures and mowings need rain and fall seeding looks fairly well. 

 There was from one-half to three-fourths of a full fruit bloom; no 

 damage from frost. Tent caterpillars and cut worms are doing some 

 damage. Planting is rather backward. Farm help is not plenty and 

 three-fourths of the supply is good help. Wages are from $1.50 to 

 $1.75 per day, without board, and from $20 to $26 per month, with 

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



Chesterfield (Horatio Bisbee) . — The season is hardly up to the 

 average. Pastures are poor and mowings winterkilled more or less. 

 The apple and pear bloom was good. Tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage. Planting is progressing fairly well. Farm help is not plenty, 



