44 



SPKAYI^'G. 



The answers to the question as to whether or not spraying 

 for San Jose scale and for codling moth and other insects 

 is being done simply bear out the contentions of those who 

 have been so earnestly advocating these preventive measures 

 for some years past. From the localities which are now 

 known to be producing the very finest fruit, some reports 

 state that spraying both in winter for the scale and in spring 

 and summer for other insect pests and for fungous diseases is 

 an almost universal practice. Too great stress cannot be laid 

 upon the importance of spraying. Only in this way can 

 the best fruit be obtained. While this may seem unnecessary 

 precaution and advice to those of our growers who rightly 

 regard spraying as simply part of the business, there are still 

 far too many farmers who are loath to recognize its benefits 

 and apply it in actual practice. 



Small Fruit Prospects. 

 The prospect for small fruits as a whole has been somewhat 

 reduced by frosts during the month of May, and, from the re- 

 turns at hand, it appears that the crop will be about 78.3 per 

 cent of normal for the State as a whole. Owing to a limited 

 number of returns some of the averages may not be as ac- 

 curate as with a larger number, but the deductions for 

 counties are as follows : Berkshire, 80 per cent ; Franklin, 

 81.6 per cent; Hampshire, 50 per cent; Hampden, 45.6 

 per cent; Worcester, 72.7 per cent; Middlesex, 79 per cent; 

 Essex, 90.8 per cent; ISTorfolk, 82 per cent; Bristol, 87.5 per 

 cent; Plymouth, 100 per cent; and Barnstable, 91.6 per 

 cent. 



Markets axd Marketing. 



The reply to the question as to whether or not markets 

 are good conveys some interesting information. Forty-three 

 correspondents reply in the affirmative, 19 report " fair," 

 and only 3 report in the negative, these very likely in view 

 of unsatisfactory local conditions. The reply, then, bears 

 out the contention that our markets are excellent; and they 



