34 



berries, 75. Market-garden crops, requiring hot weather, are not 

 looking as well as usual, and late-sown cabbage is not germinating 

 well on account of dry weathei*. 



Merrimac (S. Bixby Sargent). —- Gypsy moths are proving the 

 most troublesome insects. The condition of Indian corn is 80; as 

 compared with normal, there is a slight increase in acreage. Haying 

 has begun and the prospect for the crop is 90. There is not much 

 change in the acreage of early potatoes; the prospect for the crop 

 is 100. The supply of dairy cows has decreased. The average net 

 wholesale price for milk is 40 to 45 cents per can, and the retaU 

 price is 8 cents per quart. The condition of pastures is about the 

 same as usual, not especially good, anyway. Pheasants have done 

 considerable damage by pulling corn. 



Groveland (A. S. Longfellow). — Gypsy moths, potato bug-s, 

 onion maggots and cutworms are the most troublesome insects. In- 

 dian corn is in 95 per cent condition, while the acreage is normal. 

 No haying has been done; there is a promise of an 80 per cent crop. 

 The acreage of early potatoes has been decreased 25 per cent; the 

 crop prospect is 90. As compared with one year ago, milk supply 

 has decreased 10 per cent. Cans are selling for 37 cents wholesale, 

 and the retail jDrice is 8 cents per quart. The wholesale price is 

 slightly lower than last year. The condition of pasturage is 75. 

 The fruit outlook is : apples, 25 ; pears, 80 ; peaches and strawben-ies, 

 75; raspberries, 90. 



Newbury (Geo. "W. Adams). — The most injurious insects are the 

 brown-tail moth, tent caterpillar and gypsy moth. The condition of 

 corn is 80; the acreage is 105. Farmers have commenced haying, 

 with a promise of an 85 to 90 per cent crop. The acreage of early 

 potatoes has increased 10 per cent. There is a prosj^eet for a normal 

 crop. Early market-garden crops have yielded 90 and have brought 

 100 per cent prices. There is a good prospect for those not yet 

 harvested. There are apparently more dairj' cows, but in reality 

 there is a 5 per cent decrease. Milk production has fallen off 10 

 per cent; the supply of cream is about the same, with a slight de- 

 crease in the production of butter. Milk prices average higher than 

 a year ago. Pastures are in 90 to 100 per cent condition. The 

 fruit outlook is : apples, 100 ; pears, 80 ; peaches, 100 ; plums, 90 : 

 strawberries, 90; other small fruits, 100. It is impossible to get at 

 the prices on milk, as hardly any two producers sell under the same 

 conditions. Local prices vary from 6 to 8 cents per quart. A 

 little wholesaled at Boston contractors' i^rices. 



Topsfield (B. P. Pike). — Gypsy and brown-tail moths and po- 

 tato beetles appear to be producing the greatest havoc. In both 

 condition and acreage Indian corn is 100. Haying has begun, with 

 an 80 per cent crop prospect. There is an average acreage of early 



