18 



generally in better than average condition. There was a large fruit 

 bloom, but some damage from frost. Grubs and cut worms are doing 

 some damage. Planting is progressing very rapidly and the season 

 has been favorable for fitting the ground. Farm help is plenty, but 

 wages are a little higher than usual. Wages range from $20 to $25 

 per month, for eight months; and from $1.75 to $2 per day without 

 board; with day help in haying from $2 to $2.50. There will be more 

 corn planted and less potatoes than usual. Our farmers are more 

 particular than usual about the quality of the seed they plant. 



Chicopee (E. L. Shaw). — The season is about a week earlier than 

 usual. Pastures and mowings are doing well and fall seeding wintered 

 well. Apples made a full bloom, others quite full ; no damage from 

 frosts. Cut worms, wire worms, and white grubs are doing damage in 

 gardens and to strawberries. Potatoes are planted and corn is partly 

 planted, all are busy putting in garden crops. Help seems more plenty 

 than usual, but only a small part of it is good help. Wages range from 

 $25 to $30 per month with board and from $1.25 to $1.50 per day 

 without board. The acreage of corn will be increased and that of 

 potatoes decreased. 



TFt7fcra/tam (Henry M. Bliss). — The season is ten days behind 

 the normal. The promise for pastures and mowings is good and fall 

 seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom was full average and that of 

 peaches extra good. The San Jose scale and the elm leaf beetle are 

 doing damage. Planting is progressing very slowly. Farm help is 

 scarce and about 25 per cent of it good help. Wages range from $25 

 to $30 per month with board and are 20 cents per hour \vithout board. 

 More corn than usual is being planted. 



Monson (F. D. Rogers). — The season has been checked by cool 

 weather so that it is not more than a week in advance of the normal. 

 Pastures were poor, but are now improving; fall seeding and mowings 

 are looking well. Fruit trees bloomed profusely, except a few varieties 

 of plums; there has been little damage from frost. Insects are doing 

 little damage as yet. Potatoes and early garden truck are planted and 

 most corn will be planted this week. Farm help is not plenty. Wages 

 range from $20 to $25 per month with board and average $30 without 

 board, but with rent, wood and milk. The acreage of corn will be 

 increased and that of potatoes decreased. 



Palmer (O. P. Allen). — The season compares well with the nor- 

 mal. Pastures and mowings are looking well and fall seeding wintered 

 well. The fruit bloom was fully up to the normal ; some damage from 

 frost, but not serious. Currant worms and cut worms have appeared. 

 Planting is progressing fairly well. Farms help is, as usual, rather 

 scarce and about one-fourth of it is good. Wages average $18 per 

 month with board and $1.50 per day without board. There are no 

 marked changes in the acreages of the usual farm crops. 



