26 



Seekonk (John W. Peck). — The season is about a normal one. 

 Grass is good on low lands and fall seeding wintered well. Apples were 

 not up to the normal in bloom; pears, plums and small fruits 

 heavy; no damage from frosts. Cut worms and white grubs are re- 

 ported in some fields of cabbage. Planting is progressing finely. Day 

 help is plenty, mostly Portuguese and fairly good; help by the month 

 scarce. Wages average $2.5 per month with board and $9 per week 

 without board. There will be more corn and less potatoes planted 

 than usual. More winter spinach and kale has been cut and marketed 

 this spring than ever before. 



Dighton {How ART) C. Briggs). — ^ The season is an average one. 

 Pastures are in good condition; hay will be an average crop; fall 

 seeding wintered poorly. There was an average bloom of all fruit and 

 but little damage from frost, except to strawberries. Nearly all in- 

 sects are more troublesome than usual, especially cut worms. Plant- 

 ing is progressing finely. Farm help is scarce and perhaps one-half of 

 it is good help. Wages range 'from $2.5 to $30 per month with board 

 and average $1..50 per day without board. There are no marked 

 changes in the acreage of the usual farm crops. 



Berkley (Rollin H. Babbitt). — The season is about ten days 

 earlier than the normal. Pastures and mowings, promise well and fall 

 seeding looks well, but rain is needed. The fruit bloom was about 

 average, but has suffered somewhat from frost. Elm beetles and cut 

 worms have appeared. Planting is progressing finely. Good help is 

 scarce. Wages range from $20 to $25 per month with board and aver- 

 age $1.50 per day without board. Much more corn than usual will be 

 planted and less potatoes. 



Swansea (F. G. Arnold). — March and April were very dry. Pas- 

 tures look well, meadows fair; fall seeding wintered well. The fruit 

 bloom was about normal and frost has done no damage. Elm beetles 

 are doing some damage. Planting is about completed. Farm help is 

 scarce and about half is good help. Wages average $24 per month 

 with board and $30 to $33 without board but with tenement and 

 garden; day help $1.50 per day without board. There will be an 

 increased acreage of corn, oats and fodder croj^s. 



Acushnet (M. S. Douglas). — Everything is about ten days ahead 

 of the normal. Pasturage is good and mowings very good; fall seed- 

 ing wintered well. All fruits bloomed very heavily, and there is no 

 apparent damage from frost. Tent caterpillars, cut worms and black 

 flies are doing damage. Planting is progressing finely. Farm help is 

 very scarce and the supply of good help is very small. Wages average 

 $25 per month with board and from $1.50 to $1.75 per day without 

 board. There will be more corn planted than usual, and the acreage 

 of potatoes will be decreased, on account of the prevailing low price. 

 A good many apple and peach trees were set out last year, as farmers 

 have found out that good fruit can be raised by spraying. Peas are 

 not up to the average, because of cold nights. 



