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There is no great change in the acreage of the usual farm crops. One 

 farm has 150 acres of tobacco under cloth. 



Chicopee (E. L. Shaw). — The season has been backward, cold and 

 dry, but is coming forward rapidly now. Pastures and mowings are 

 slow, for want of sufficient rain, and fall seeding did not winter well. 

 There was generally a very full fruit bloom, especialh' apples. There 

 is not much injury from insects as yet. Potatoes are all planted and 

 some corn; everybody very busy on account of lateness of the season. 

 Farm help is scarce and only a small part of it can be called good. 

 Wages average $25 per month, with board, and $40 without board. 

 There is rather more market-gardening being done than usual. 



East Longmeadow (John L. Davis). — The season was drj^ and cold 

 early, but hot and dry later. Pastures and mowings lack moisture 

 and fall seeding winterkilled somewhat. All fruit had a good bloom. 

 Cut worms, wire worms and white grubs are doing damage. Planting 

 is progressing very rapidly. There is about the average supply of 

 farm help of fair quality. Wages average $20 per month, with board, 

 and 11.75 per day of 9 hours, without board. There will be an in- 

 creased acreage of corn. There is a good looking field of alfalfa in 

 town. 



Wilbraham (H. M. Bliss) . — The season is ten to fifteen days late. 

 Pastures and mowings are very dry and backward, and fall seeding 

 did not winter well. All kinds of fruit trees blossomed well. Planting 

 is progressing very slowly. Farm help is scarce and 75 per cent of the 

 supply is good help. Wages average from $20 to $25 per month, with 

 board, and $1.50 per day, without board. There is an increased 

 acreage of corn. 



Monson (F. D. Rogers). — The season is a normal one. Well 

 cared for mowings are looking well, but old fields and pastures are 

 suffering from the drought. Most fruit trees blossomed full, except 

 Baldwin apples, which are light. Tent caterpillars and cut worms 

 are working some, but not seriously. Planting is well along, except 

 corn, and most of that will go in next week. There seems enough 

 farm help to go around, but good help is scarce. Wages range from 

 $20 to $25 per month, with board, and from $1.50 and $1.75 per day 

 and $30 to $35 per month, without board, but with tenement, wood, 

 etc. There will be more corn planted than usual. 



Bnmfield (F. N. Lawrence). — The spring was backward and has 

 since been dry, with very little rain for six weeks. Pastures and mow- 

 ings are very dry. The apple bloom is not as full as two years ago; 

 pears, peaches and plums full, with no frost as yet. Tent caterpillars 

 are plentiful this year. Very little fall seeding has been done as yet, 

 on account of the backward spring and dry weather. Less potatoes 

 will be planted than usual, other crops about normal. 



