24 



of good farm help is one of the drawbacks to farming. Seventy- 

 five per cent may be called good help. The average wages paid 

 are: with board, per month, $25 to $30; without board, per day, $2. 



Brimfield (F. N. Lawrencf-), — The present season, agriculturally 

 speaking, is some two Aveeks earlier than normal. The condition of 

 pastures and mowings is 75; of fall seeding, 90. This came through 

 the winter well. The bloom of fruits was: apples, pears and small 

 fruits, 95; peaches, 80; plums, 90. On low lands peaches, plums, 

 strawberries and apples have suffered somewhat from frost. Tent 

 caterpillars are very plentiful on apple and cherry trees. We have 

 no brown-tail or gypsy moths. Very little planting has been done, 

 as we have had very cold weather for the past two weeks. Help 

 is scarce, but what there is is paid $25 to $30 per month with board 

 and $2 per day without board. Apple trees are being sprayed more 

 than usual. 



Worcester County. 



Eoyalston (C. A. Stimson). — The present is a good growing sea- 

 son. Pastures, mowings and fall seeding are in normal condition, 

 and the last-named wintered well. The bloom of fruits was: apples, 

 pears and small fruits, 100; peaches, 70; plums, 95. No frost dam- 

 age to fruits has been done. All fruit trees are badly infested with 

 tent caterpillars. One-fourth of planting was done May 24. Help 

 is scarce and only one-half is efficient. Help is paid $30 per 

 month with board and $2 per day without board. 



Ashburnham (E. D. Gibson). — The season was twenty days 

 ahead of the normal, but it is now ten days behind. The condi- 

 tion of pastures and grass lands is 75. Fall seeding came through 

 the winter in fine shape; its present condition is 90. The bloom of 

 fruits was: apples, 85; pears, 90; peaches, 50; plums, 35; small 

 fruits, 90. Strawberries and blueberries especially suffered from 

 frost, and apples, pears, plums and cherries suffered to some extent. 

 Tent caterpillars and brown-tail moths are doing the greatest injury. 

 Gypsy moths are likely to be plentiful. Planting is 30 per cent 

 done; have hardly known a season to vary so. Farm help is 

 scarce; possibly 20 per cent is capable. Monthly wages vary from 

 $20 to $35; day wages, without board, are $1.50 to $2. 



Templeton (Lucien Gove). — Up to May 6 vegetation pushed 

 rapidly ahead owing to the warm weather. Subsequently, the sea- 

 son has been cool with several frosts. Nevertheless, agriculturally 

 speaking, it is a more favorable season than for the past four or 

 five years. The condition of pastures and mowings is 97; of fall 

 seeding, 95. The bloom of fruits was: apples, 97; pears and 

 peaches, 100; plums, 75; small fruits, 80. In the valleys all fruits 

 were injured by frosts to some extent, but no serious damage was 

 done to fruits on uplands. The most d-amage by insects is being 



