16 



Belchertown (Almon L. Pratt). — Cut worms have done con- 

 siderable damage. Indian corn is small but of good color; half the 

 ci'op is grown for ensilage. The hay crop is about 60 per cent of 

 the normal in quantity and of good quality. More forage crops 

 than usual are being raised, but they are in poor condition. Market- 

 garden crops are in poor condition and there are but few potatoes 

 to dig; prices are high. There will be about half a normal crop of 

 fruit. Pasturage is in vei-y poor condition. Rye, oats and barley 

 are about three-fourths crops. Very few apple trees have been set 

 out. 



Amherst (Wm. P. Brooks). — Potato bugs and elm-leaf beetles 

 are doing damage. Corn is in unusually fine and forward condition, 

 except on very light soils, where it has suffered badly from drought. 

 The hay crop was about two-thirds of the normal; well-cured, but 

 with very little clover. More forage crops than usual have been put 

 in, but they are in very poor condition, owing to drought. Potatoes, 

 except on the best of soils, have suffered greatly from drought, as 

 have other market-garden crops, except squashes, cucumbers and 

 tomatoes. Fruit will apparently be small, but of fair quantity. 

 Pastures are very short; in many places the sod is brown and there 

 is no feed. 



Hadley (L. W. West). — Potato bugs are doing some damage. 

 Corn looks well, being mostly a week ahead of the normal; about 

 one-fifth of the crop is grown for ensilage. From one-half to two- 

 thirds of a crop of hay was secured in good condition. Rather less 

 than the usual amount of forage crops are being raised and they 

 are in rather poor condition owing to dry weather. Market-garden 

 crops are below the average; potatoes poor and few han^ested; price 

 higher than usual. Apples small and dropping badly; plums fair; 

 grapes winter-killed. Pasturage is short and dry. Rye is 10 per 

 cent and oats 20 per cent below the normal. One apple orchard 

 of 10 acres has been set out. Tobacco and onions are very uneven. 

 Southampton (C. B. Lyman). — Potato bugs are doing some dam- 

 age. Indian corn is late, but is lookmg fairly well; about 20 per 

 cent of the crop is grown for ensilage. The hay crop was about 

 three-fourths of the normal, and of very good quality. About the 

 usual amount of forage crops is being grown and they are in good 

 condition. Potatoes are a very light crop. Apples, pears, peaches 

 and plums will give light yields. Pastures are dry and brown. 

 Rye, oats and barley are about normal. No new apple orchards 

 have been set out. 



Westhampton (Levi Burt). — Cattle flies and potato bugs are 

 troublesome. Indian corn is looking finely and three-fourths of the 

 crop will be put into the silo. Hay was about a three-fourths crop 

 of fine quality. Not as many forage crops as usual are being grown 



