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berries. Caterpillars are pro\'ing the most injurious. Of planting, 

 75 per cent is already done, which is the normal amount. Help is 

 scarce; only 25 per cent is good farm help. The wages paid are: 

 with board, per month, $25 to $30; without board, per day, $1.50 

 to $2. 



Middlesex County. 



Dtmstahle (A. J. Gilsok). — This season is about two weeks later 

 than a normal. The condition of pastures and mowings is 50. Fall 

 seeding wintered well ; its condition is 75. The bloom of fruits was : 

 apples, 75; pears, 90. The former suffered from frosts. The tent 

 caterpillars were never so abundant; the brown-tail moths are doing 

 the next most damage. Twenty per cent of planting is already done ; 

 this is below the average. Help is scarce; about 15 per cent can be 

 called good help. Wages paid average, with board, per month, $25; 

 without board, per day, $1.75. More acres of potatoes will be 

 planted. It would be better for the farmer if there were more birds. 



Dracut (B, A. Cluff). — The present season is a favorable one, 

 agidculturally speaking. Pastures are in normal condition and 

 grass is looking fine. There should be a heavy hay crop. The con- 

 dition of fall seeding is 95. The bloom of fruits was: apples, 75; 

 pears, 90; peaches, 40; plums, 30; small fruits, 75. Frosts injured 

 strawberries and peaches. The insects that appear to be the most 

 damaging are tent caterpillars. Planting is 50 per cent done, which 

 compares favorably with an average year. Farm help is scarce 

 and only 10 per cent can be called reliable. The average wages paid 

 are: with board, per month, $22; without board, per day, $1.50 to 

 $1.75. The acreage of corn will be increased; that of potatoes de- 

 creased. More soUing crops are being put in. Farmers are aU 

 spraying and the fruit should be better than usual. 



Ayer (Fred A. Smith). — The season is seven to ten days late. 

 Pastures and mowings are looking normal. Of fall seeding, 75 per 

 cent is growing. The bloom of fi'uits was: apples, 25 per cent 

 above 1912; pears, average; peaches, 75 per cent above 1912; 

 plums, 10 per cent above 1912; small fruits above the average. 

 Frosts injured strawberries, peaches and some cherries. One or 

 two peach orchards blossomed full, but scarcely any fruit has started 

 on account of the cold nights. Tent caterpillars and brown-tail 

 and gypsy moths are proving the most injurious insects. Of plant- 

 ing, 25 per cent is ah-eady done; this is only 50 per cent of what 

 is usually done at this time of year. Help is scarce, and 10 per 

 cent is good. Good farm help gets $26 to $30 per month with board 

 and $2 per day without board. Some foreign help works for less. 

 There will be a 10 per cent greater acreage of potatoes than last 

 year. Farmers are setting out apple trees all over their farms. 



Billerica (E. F. Dickinson). — The season started in as an early 



