20 



WORCESTER COUNTY. 



Charlton (Loren E. Stevens). — Everything is from ten days to 

 two weeks later than usual. Pastures and mowings are in fair con- 

 dition. There have been no late frosts; apples show little bloom, 

 other fruit trees as usual. Tent caterpillars and elm leaf beetles are 

 doing some damage. Planting is progressing slowly, as it is very dry. 

 Farm help is scarce, with little good help. Wages average $30 per 

 month, with board, and 11.75 per day, without board. Potatoes have 

 been so cheap that there will be fewer than usual planted. 



North Brookfield (John H. Lane) . — Cultivated crops are late. 

 Pastures and mowings are late and dry. The bloom of fruits was 

 good, with no damage from frosts. Tent caterpillars are abundant. 

 Planting is progressing very slowly. Farm help is very scarce and 

 25 per cent is good help. Wages average $25 to $30 per month, with 

 board, and $1.75 per day, without board. The acreage of potatoes 

 will be decreased and that of corn increased. 



Oakham (Jesse Allen). — The season is a fair average one to date. 

 Pastures and mowings look well since the rain and fall seeding wintered 

 well. The bloom of apples and peaches was light, that of pears very 

 full, and small fruits a fair average. Tent caterpillars are doing some 

 damage. Planting is nearly completed. Farm help is scarce and half 

 of it good help. Wages average from $20 to $30 per month, with board, 

 and from $30 to $40, without board. There will be no marked change 

 in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Templeton (Lucien Gove). — The season is unfavorable, the severe 

 drought this spring having created a poor outlook. Pastures are very 

 short, grass in mowings thin, and fall seeding not in good condition. 

 Fruit bloom up to the normal, with no damage from frost. Tent 

 caterpillars and cut worms are doing a limited amount of damage. 

 Cold weather and drought makes planting late. There is no particular 

 change in the quantity or quality of farm help. Wages range from 

 $15 to $20 per month, with board, and from $30 to $35, without 

 board. There will be a greater acreage than usual to corn, and in- 

 creased attention given to forage crops. 



Royalston (C. A. Stimson). — The season is early. Many complain 

 of lack of rain for pastures and mowings; fall seeding wintered well. 

 There was a full bloom of all fruits and no damage from frost. Tent 

 caterpillars are doing some damage. Planting is progressing well. 

 Farm help is scarce and one-fourth of it is good help. Wages average 

 $25 per month, with board, and $1.75 per day, without board. There 

 are no marked changes in the acreages of farm crops. 



Ashburnham (E. D. Gibson). — The season is generally backward, 

 except for farm work, which is early. Pastures very backward; old 

 mowings very light; some fall seeding winterkilled. There is a fair 

 bloonj on all kinds of fruit. There are some brown-tail moths and a 



