25 



wintered well. Apples are about 25 per cent of a normal bloom; 

 other fruits average. Gypsy moths, tent caterpillars and cut worms 

 are doing damage. Planting is progressing very slowly. There is 

 a medium supply of fair help. Wages average $25 per month, with 

 board, and SI. 50 per day, of 9 hours, without board. There are no 

 marked changes in the acreage of farm crops. Many vegetable seeds 

 failed to germinate on account of the dry weather. 



Topsfield (B. P. Pike). — The season is below the average. Pas- 

 tures are very short and mowings poor; fall seeding wintered fairly 

 well. There was 60 per cent of a full fruit bloom. Brown-tail and 

 gypsy moths are doing damage. Planting is progressing norm.ally. 

 Farm help is scarce and 10 per cent of it is good help. Wages average 

 S25 per month, with board, and $1.75 per day, without board. There 

 was less than the usual acreage of farm crops. 



Hamilton (Geo. R. Dodge). — The season is backward. Pastures 

 and mowings are short; fall seeding wintered fairly well. Summer 

 and fall apples, stone and small fruits bloomed full, but the outlook 

 for winter apples is not promising. Tent caterpillars and cut worms 

 seem more numerous than in recent years. Planting is progressing 

 slowly, much remaining to be done. Help seems to be in about the 

 usual supply and of about the usual quality. Wages average $1.25 

 per day, with board, and $1.75, without board. Perhaps there will 

 be a slight increase in the acreage of field corn. I hear of some who 

 will try seeding to alfalfa this summer. 



Danvers (Charles H. Preston). — The season is backward, on 

 account of dry weather. Pastures and mowings are poor; fall seeding 

 wintered well. The fruit bloom was fair, with no damage from frosts. 

 Brown-tail moths, cut worms, tent caterpillars and canker worms are 

 doing damage. Planting is backward because of dry weather. Farm 

 help is scarce. Wages average $25 per month, with board, and $43, 

 without board. There is no special change in the acreage of farm 

 crops. Much seed has failed to germinate and what has come up has 

 made little progress. 



NORFOLK COUNTY. ^i^ 



Cohasset (Ellery C. Bates). — The season is normal. Pastures 

 and mowings promise poorly, unless we have rain soon; fall seeding 

 wintered well. There was a good fruit bloom and no damage from 

 frosts. Cut worms are doing damage. Planting is progressing well. 

 Farm help is scarce, but two-thirds of it is good help. Wages average 

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

 day, without board. There will be no marked change in the acreage 

 of any farm crop. 



Randolph (Rufus A. Thayer). — The season is very dry, cold and 

 backward. Pastures and mowings show very small growth, except 

 on rich, moist land. There was a very heavy fruit bloom. Tent 



