48 



to the consumer, although some fruit is sold through commission 

 houses in Boston and "Worcester. Very little frost on hills; in val- 

 leys, strawberries and peaches some damage. 



Hampshire County. 



Cummington (Charles M. Cudworth). — All fruits grow well 

 with the exception of the peach. There is much land available for 

 fruit culture. Apples are being planted, but very few commercial 

 orchards. Fruit buds wintered as follows: peaches poorly; plums 

 fair; cherries excellent. Apples and pears showed a 100 or better 

 per cent bloom. Tent caterpillars worse than for many yeai*s. Very 

 little spraying for San Jose, some for other fruit pests. Small 

 fruits blossomed better than I have ever seen them. Markets fair, 

 some fruit sold direct to consumer, but largely through commission 

 men. Cherries and apples badly hit by frost on low land. 



Middle field (Arthur D. Pease). — In this locality apples do best. 

 There is plenty of land available for fruit culture. Few new or- 

 chards are being planted ; mostly apples and a few peaches. Apples 

 showed a 75 per cent bloom and pears, 100. The codling moth and 

 tent worm are doing the most damage. Spraying for San Jose scale 

 is not practiced, but during May and early June spraying for cod- 

 ling moth and other fruit pests is practiced to a small extent. Most 

 marketing is done through commission houses. Some fruits were 

 damaged by frosts; many have since blossomed all right. 



Pelham (M. N. Allen). — Peaches, apples and all kinds of ber- 

 ries do well in this locality, and there is plenty of land available for 

 fruit culture. Peaches and apples mostly are being planted. Finiit 

 buds wintered as follows: peach, 98; plum, 98; cherry, 98. Apples 

 showed a bloom of 100 ; pears, 75. Scale insects are the most trouble- 

 SMne on fruit trees. Spraying for San Jose scale, for the codling 

 moth and other fruit pests is practiced. Prospects for strawberries, 

 50 per cent. Markets fair, most of the marketing being done through 

 stores and direct to the consumers. Strawberries and cun-ants have 

 suffered from frosts, 



Hampden County. 



West Springfield (Ethan Brooks). — Apples receive the most 

 attention and consequently do best in this locality. There is plenty 

 of land available for fruit culture, but new orchards are being planted 

 only to a limited extent, and are mostly apples and poaches. Fruit 

 buds wintered as follows : peach, 90 ; plum and cherry, both, 90. Ap- 

 ples showed a bloom of 75; pears, 80. San Jose scale, tent cater- 

 pillars and codling moths are doing the most damage. Sprajdng 

 for all insects is practiced. Prospect for the small-fruit crop is 50 

 per cent. Markets good, most marketing being done through dealers. 

 Strawberries, plums, cherries, — and apples to some extent, — have 

 suffered from frosts. 



