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done by tent caterpillars and cutworms. Of planting, 40 per cent 

 is already done; this is below the normal amount. Farm help is 

 hard to get, and only 25 per cent can be called reliable. Monthly 

 wages average $22 with board; $1.75 is paid per day without board. 

 There will be a slight increase in the acreage of corn. Increased 

 care of fruit trees is most noticeable. 



Hardwick (Charles 0. Flagg). — Protracted cold weather with 

 an unusually severe freeze on the night following May 10 marked 

 the present season. Pastui-es, mowings and fall seeding are in 

 normal condition. The bloom of fruits was : apples, 80 ; pears, 100 ; 

 peaches, 125; plums, 125; small fruits, 100. All fruits have suf- 

 fered from frosts. Seventy-five per cent of small fruits were killed. 

 The damage to peaches and plums is uncertain; apples on low lands 

 were injured badly; on uplands lightly. Insects appearing to be 

 doing the most damage are tent caterpillars, elm-leaf beetles and 

 some brown-tail moths. Of planting, 30 per cent was done May 24, 

 which is very little different from an average year. Fann help is 

 scarce; probably half can be considered eflScient. Wages, per 

 month, average $45 to $50; wages, per day, average $1.75 to $2. 

 Much more interest is taken in pruning and spraying orchards. 

 There is more top-dressing of gi'asslands and co-operative buying of 

 chemicals for home-mixing. From last season's experience some 

 farmers anticipate that pheasants will damage corn. 



Oakham (Jesse Allen). — The present season comjDares favor- 

 ably with a normal. Pastures and mowings are in 90 per cent 

 condition. Fall seeding wintered well; its condition is 80. The 

 bloom of fruits was: apples, 90; pears, 100; peaches and plums, 

 75; small fruits, 90. Apples and small fruits suffered from frosts. 

 Tent caterpillars are very bad. Planting is one-half completed, 

 which is very foi-ward for this time of year. Farm help is scarce, 

 and 50 per cent is reliable. Average wages paid help are: with 

 board, per mouth, $30; without board, per day, $2. The acreage 

 of corn will be increased; that of i^otatoes diminished. We need 

 more birds. 



Warren (William E. Patrick). — 'The present season is about 

 two weeks in advance of a normal. The condition of pastures and 

 mowings is 90; of fall seeding, 100. The bloom of fraits was: 

 apples, 95; pears, 90; peaches, 98; plums, 85; small fruits, 90. 

 Tent caterpillars, currant worms and cutworms are the most dam- 

 aging insects. Thirty per cent of planting is completed; this is 

 about the same as an average year. Twenty-five per cent of farm 

 help can be called good. Farm help is paid $30 per month, with 

 board, and $1.75 per day, without board. 



Sturbridge (Fraxk T. Haynes). — The season is more forward 

 than a normal. The condition of pastures and mowings is 100. 



