35 



$1.50. Less corn and potatoes than usual will have been planted. 

 There are very few song birds this spring. The crows are pulling 

 potato sprouts and corn. The brown-tail moths are held in subjec- 

 tion. Squirrels are more troublesome than crows to corn growers, 

 particularly near the woods; they follow the planter and dig up the 

 seed. 



Fairhaven (D. W. Deane). — Agriculturally speaking, the pres- 

 ent season compares very favorably with a normal. Pastures, grass- 

 lands and mowings are in 90 per cent condition ; fall seeding wintered 

 well. The bloom of fruits was : apples, 100 ; pears, 85 ; peaches, 75 ; 

 plums, 100; small fruits, 100. There has been no damage from frost 

 as yet. Cutworms and tent caterpillars appear to be doing the most 

 damage. Seventy-five per cent of the planting has been done, which 

 is about the same as usual. Farm help is scarce and only 5 per cent 

 can be called good help. Wages average $25 per month with board 

 and $1.65 per day Avithout board. The potato acreage will show a 

 fallhig oft" of 20 per cent. All kinds of birds seem to be diminishing; 

 some species are not in evidence at all up to this time. 



Plymouth Coukty. 



Brockton (David Copeland). — The present is a few days in ad- 

 vance of a normal season. The condition of pastures, mowings and 

 fall seeding is 80. The bloom of all fruits was normal, but straw- 

 berries suffered from frosts. Tent caterpillars appear to be doing 

 the most damage. Of planting 75 per cent is already done, which 

 is about the normal amount. Farm help is scarce; 50 per cent is 

 good help. Wages average $23 per month, with board, and $1.50 to 

 $2 per day, without board. There will be, perhaps, a little more corn 

 planted than usual. 



Hanover (Harrison L. House). — This is a normal season. Pas- 

 tures, mowings and fall seeding are in normal condition. All fruits 

 bloomed full, but strawberries suffered from frost to some extent. 

 Tent caterpillars are all that cause damage to any extent; some cut- 

 worms are busy, however. Planting is one-fourth done, which is the 

 average amount. Help is scarce,- and only 25 per cent can be con- 

 sidered reliable. Farm help is paid $25 per month with board and 

 $2 per ^^?^J Avithout board. Several small orchards have been set 

 out. The weather is cold for the season and rather dry. 



Buxbury (Henry A. Fish). — It is a cold and backward season 

 and the .ground is very dry. Grass is in fair condition. Fall seed- 

 ing wintered well and its condition is 90. The bloom of fruits was : 

 apples, about the same; pears, good; peaches and plums, frosted; 

 strawberries, good. Tent caterpillars in large numbers are working 

 havoc. Of planting, one-half is finished; this is about the same as 

 usual. Farm help is scarce; 50 per cent is good help. Day wages 



