15 



suffered little from frost. Cut worms are doing some damage in gar- 

 dens. Corn for grain will be practically all planted this week. Farm 

 help is scarce, but Polish help is good if it can be obtained. Wages 

 average $25 per month with board and from $1.75 to S2 per day with- 

 out board. There will be an increase in the acreage of corn. Our 

 farmers are generally fitting their land more thoroughly than usual 

 and making better selection of seed corn. 



Erving (Chas. F. Clark) . — The season is more forward than usual 

 in some respects. Pastures and mowings promise well and fall seeding 

 wintered well. The fruit bloom is above the average and has not 

 suffered from frost. Planting is progressing finely. Farm help is not 

 very plenty, but perhaps two-thirds of it is good help. Wages average 

 $25 per month with board and $1.60 per day without board. There 

 will be no marked changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Wendell (Nelson D. Plumb). — The season is somewhat backward. 

 Pastures and mowings are above normal at this season and seeding 

 above average. Fruit trees of all kinds are in full bloom and have 

 not been affected by frost. No insects are doing damage. The ma- 

 jority of our farmers have finished planting. Farm help is very scarce 

 and half of it reliable. Wages average from $1.75 to $2 per day with- 

 out board. Only about half the usual acreage of potatoes will be 

 planted and nearly all are planting more corn than in former years. 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. 



Ware (J. H. Fletcher). — The season is earlier than last year. 

 Pastures and mowings are coming on very well and fall seeding is 

 looking well. The fruit bloom was very full and there has been no 

 damage from frosts. There is no damage from insects. Planting is 

 progressing very well. About the usual supply of help is available 

 and half of it is good. Wages range from $20 to $25 per month with 

 board and average $1.50 per day without board. More corn will be 

 planted than in past years. 



Greenu-ich (W. H. Glazier). — The season is about two weeks 

 earlier than usual. Pastures are in good condition and fall seeding is 

 looking excellently ; old mowings are in fair condition. All fruit trees 

 are full of bloom, with but httle damage from frost. Cut worms are 

 doing some damage and a few tent caterpillars have appeared. Plant- 

 ing is progressing very well and every one is busy. Farm help is scarce 

 but what there is is good. Wages average $1.50 per day and there is 

 but little help hired by the month. There is about the usual acreage 

 of corn and potatoes. There are a good many potatoes on hand which 

 will have to be fed to stock. 



Belchertoivn (H. C. West). — The season is ten days ahead of the 

 normal. The two past dry seasons have injured pastures and mowings; 

 fall seeding is fairly good. The fruit bloom was very full and frosts 

 have done no harm. White grubs are doing some damage to straw- 



