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Potatoes. 

 The reports are general that the acreage of early potatoes 

 is decidedly decreased from former years, as indeed is that 

 of all potatoes. This is due in a large measure to poor prices 

 for the past few years, and the difficulty of raising the crop 

 without special machinery and equipment. The crop was 

 somewhat backward at time of making returns, as was all 

 vegetation, but otherwise seemed to promise well. With 

 careful spraying good results can be obtained from potatoes 

 in Massachusetts as well as in Maine, and this crop is one 

 that deserves more careful and intelligent culture from our 

 farmers. 



Eaely Makket-gaeden Crops. 

 Early market-garden crops suffered from drought, cold 

 weather and the ravages of cut worms, being planted over 

 in numerous instances, and were generally light in yield. 

 They were correspondingly high in price, and the growers 

 in general seem to be well satisfied with the results. Crops 

 coming on within a short time are also backward, and bid 

 fair to be light. What the result will be with late market- 

 garden crops is as yet uncertain, but there is some com- 

 plaint that celery, cabbage and cauliflower plants are poor 

 and difficult to procure. 



Dairy Peoducts and Dairy Cows. 

 The supply of dairy products seems to be fully up to the 

 demand, with a good flow of milk. Prices for milk for the 

 metropolitan district market are considerably lower than 

 last year, as are also those paid for butter fat at the cream- 

 eries, and for butter where it is made by the dairymen. 

 Prices for milk for local consumption, outside of the metro- 

 politan district, are, according to the reports of correspond- 

 ents, well up to last year. This would indicate that the 

 way out for the Massachusetts dairyman was to seek a 

 market other than that afforded by Boston and its suburbs. 

 A curious result is seen in the answers to the portion of the 



