20 



finely. All fruit trees blossomed full, and there has been no damage 

 from frost. No insects are doing damage as yet. Potatoes are now 

 planted and corn will be planted this week. Farm help is rather above 

 the normal in quantity and (quality. Wages average $25 per month with 

 board and $35 without board. More corn than ever will be {)lanted 

 this year, with the acreage of potatoes about as usual. 



Ashburnham (E. D. Gibson). — The season is ten days ahead of the 

 p.ormal. Pastures show the effect of last j^ear's drought; fall seeding 

 wijitered well. There is a very full bloom of all fruits and berries, 

 with no damage from frosts. There is very little damage from insects. 

 Planting is about normal. Farm help is scarce and satisfactory help 

 is almost impossible to obtain. There is a gradual increase of the acre- 

 age devoted to corn from year to year. 



Fitchburg (Dr. Jabez Fisher). — The season was the earliest, on 

 May 1st, at that date for 54 years. There has been no damage to 

 grass from winterkilling. The fruit bloom was the finest for years, 

 with no frost. Cut worms are doing some damage. Planting is not 

 progressing as rapidly as was promised. Farm help is scarce, especially 

 good help. Wages average $20 per month with board and $1.50 per 

 day without board. 



West7ninster (F. W. Derby) . — The season is rather backward. 

 Pastures and mowings are looking well and fall seeding is in fair condi- 

 tion. The fruit bloom is above the average and has not suffered from 

 frost. The number of brown-tail moths is increasing. Planting is 

 progressing very slowly as the ground is cold and wet. Farm help is 

 scarce and not more than half of it is good help. Wages range from 

 $15 to $20 per month with board and average $1.75 per day of ten 

 hours without board. The acreage of the various farm crops is about 

 as usual. 



Princeton (A. O. Tyler). — The season opened three weeks earlier 

 than the normal, but cold weather in May has retarded the growth of 

 crops. Pastures and mowings never looked better and fall seeding 

 wintered well. Apples, pears and plums bloomed full; peaches fair; 

 small fruits good; no damage from frosts. Tent caterpillars and cur- 

 rant worms are doing some damage. With the exception of corn 

 planting is about completed. Farm help is plenty and about half is 

 good help. Wages range from $18 to $25 per month with board and 

 from $1.50 to $2 per day without board. There will be a greater 

 acreage of corn and a smaller acreage of potatoes than last year. 



Bolton (H. F. Haynes). — The season is about a normal one. Grass 

 looks finely, though pastures are a little backward; fall seeding win- 

 tered well. The fruit bloom suffered no damage from frost, but it did 

 some damage to asparagus. Insects are doing little damage. Planting 

 is progressing finely and is nearly completed. Farm help is scarce. 

 Wages range from $20 to $25 per month with board and average $1.75 

 per day without board. There is a normal acreage of all farm crops. 



Shrewsbury (F. J, Reed) . — The season is two weeks in advance of 



